~ 



F 
74 



Easttiampton's 




Re 





Glass. 



Rook ,t22' 



REPORT 



Centennial Celebration 



EASTHAMPTON, MASS.. 



Wednesday, June 17th, 1885. 



EASTHAMPTON, MASS.: 

L. E. TORREY, PUBLISHER. 

L885. 



CONTENTS 



Page. 

The Incorporation, - - - - 1 

Preliminary, .... 3 

Invitation, - - - - - 11 

Committees, - - - - 12 

Programme, - - - - 15 

The Celebration, - - - - 19 

The Procession, - - - - 20 

Exercises in the Town Hall, - - 34 

Opening Address, - - - - 34 

Prayer, .... 36 

Address of Welcome, - - - 39 

The Oration, 42 

The Poem, - - - - 64 

The Collation, ... 70 

After Dinner Exercises, - - - 72 

Letter from Wm. Whiting, Esq., - - 73 

Address of Gov. Geo. D. Robinson, - - 74 

" Col. E. A. Edwards, - - 81 

" Mayor B. E. Cook, Jr., - - 83 

" E. R. Bos worth, Esq., - - 84 

" Judge J. M. Barker, - - - 87 

Col. W. S. B. Hopkins, - 89 

" Rev. Payson Williston Lyman, - - 93 

H. H. Sawyer, M. A., - - 97 

Prof J. II. Sawyer, - - 102 

Editor H. S. Gere, - - 106 

Rev. C H. Hamlin. - - 109 

" C. B. Lyman, Esq., - - 111 

Letters from Absentees, - - - 113 

Centennial Museum, - - - 122 

The Illumination and Fireworks, - - - 126 

Financial Report, - - - 130 

Sermon by the Rev, C. H. Hamlin, - - 131 



Erratum.— On page 84, line ~<>, tor "native" read "adopted. 



THE INCORPORATION. 



Preamble. 



ken from 
Northamp- 
ton. 



CHAP. VI. 

[acts of 1785.] 

An Act for incorporating a certain Tract of Land lying 
in the County of Hampshire, being Part of the Towns 
of Northampton and Southampton, into a District, by 
the Name of Easthampton. 
T/1 THERE AS a number of the inhabitants of a 
""' tract of land being part of the towns of Northamp- 
ton and Southampton, in the County of Hampshire, 
have petitioned this Court to be incorporated into a sepa- 
rate district, for reasons set forth in their petition; and it 
appearing to this Court that it is expedient that the said 
tract of land, with the inhabitants thereon, (except as is 
herein after excepted) be incorporated: 

Be it therefore enacted by the Senate and House of 
Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the Boundaries 
authority of the same, That the lands taken from North- of land ta- 
ampton, described as follows, viz. Beginning in North- 
ampton, on Connecticut River, at the dividing line be- 
tween the lots of Abner Barnard and Jonathan Janes, 
in that part of the common field called Jlog's- Bladder; 
from thence running in the course of the dividing line 
aforesaid across Dan,ks\s-Pond; from thence on by the 
said pond to the dividing line between Joel Hannum and 
James HurlberVs land ; from thence on the same line to 
the high-way; from thence on the same highway to the 
south-side of the lot, in the little division originally 
laid out to John King, and upon the same line to the 
dividing line between the Lovefleld and JIatefield tier, 
in the said division; from thence on the north side of 
the original lot in the Hdtefield tier, laid out to Captain 
Clap, to the Westfield road; from thence to the north- 
side of the lot in the long division, laid out to Nathan- 
iel Phelps, and upon the same line to Westhampton, 
and in the dividing line between Northampton and 
Westhampton to Southampton line; and on the line be- 
tween Northampton and Southampton to Sj>riugjield 
line; and on the dividing line between Northampton 
and Springfield, to the line between the east and west 
tier of lots in the mountain division in Northa/u/>to/i ; 



EASTHAMPTCN CENTENNIAL RECORD. 



Lands taken 
Irom South- 
ampton. 



East h am p- 
ton incor- 
porated. 



Robert 
Breck. Esq.. 
to call a 
meeting. 



and from thence on the dividing line between the said 
tiers, to the northerly side of Elisha Janes's land, near 
the barn of Asahel Parsons; from thence on land of 
the said Asahel to the south-side of Joel Parsons's lot; 
from thence to Connecticut- River, and up the said river 
to the first described station. — And that the lands ta- 
ken from Southampton — described in the following 
manner — Beginning on the dividing line between 
Northampton and Southampton, at the west branch of 
Munhan- River, between the lands of John Hannum 
and Elijah Pomeroy ; thence running down the said 
river to the turn thereof, a little above the bridge; 
thence crossing the said river to a road; then by 
the same road to the south-side of Enos Pomeroy's 
land; then between the said land and the land of 
the heirs of Joshua Pomeroy, to the south branch 
of Munhan- River ; then up said river to another 
piece of land of said Joshua Pomeroy' 's heirs; then 
by the southwesterly line of the land of Benjamin 
Clap, between said (Jlap^s land, and land by him sold 
to William Baldwin, to the highway; then by the said 
highway to the southwesterly side of the land of said 
Clap, at Wilton 's meadow; then by the southwesterly 
side of said land to the land of Aaron Clap; and 
then by said Aaron Clap's southwesterly line to 
Westfield road, (excepting that Elijah Pomeroy, Caleb 
Pomeroy, Moses Bartlett and Preserved Bartletfs heirs, 
with their lands, are to remain to Southampton; and 
the lands within the tract aforesaid belonging to Elias 
Lyman, Elias Lyman, Jun. Joel Lyman, Jonathan 
Lyman, Samuel Judd, Simeon Judd, John Alvord, 
Jun. Daniel Masters, Josiah Wait, Abijah Wait, Asa- 
hel Parsons, Jonathan Parsons and Ephraim Parsons, 
are to remain to Northampton') together with the in- 
habitants thereon, be, and they are hereby incorporated 
into a district, by the name of Easthampton, and in- 
vested with all the powers, privileges and immunities, 
that districts in this Commonwealth are entitled to, or 
do or may enjoy, according to law. 

And be it furthur enacted by the authority afore- 
said, That Robert Breck, Esq; be, and he is hereby im- 
powered to issue his warrant directed to some principal 
inhabitant within the said district of Easthampton, di- 
recting him to warn the inhabitants of said district 
qualified to vote in town affairs, to assemble at some 
convenient time and place in the same district, to 
choose all such town or district officers as by law are to 
be chosen annually in the month of March. 



[This act passed June 17, 1785.] 



PRELIMINARY. 



The first public action looking to the celebration of the 
one hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of East- 
hampton, was taken upon the following article in the 
warrant for the annual town meeting in March, 1884. The 
motion, which is stated in the record of the vote given 
below, was made by Wm. N. Clapp, Esq. 



ARTICLE IN WARRANT FOR ANNUAL MEETING. 1884. 
[Town Records, Page 169.] 

Art. 36. — To see if the Town will take steps to observe 
the one hundredth anniversary of its incorporation. 



VOTE ON SAID ARTICLE. 
[Page 179.] 

Voted, That the Town will celebrate in a suitable 
manner the one hundredth anniversary of its incorpora- 
tion, which occurs in the year 1885, and that a committee 
be now appointed whose duty it shall be to prepare an 
order of exercises for the occasion and present the same to 
the town for its consideration and action thereon at a 
future meeting. Said committee to consist of Horatio (I. 
Knight, William N. Clapp, Lauren D. Lyman, Ansel B. 
Lyman, Charles B. Johnson, Lewis S. Clark and Edwin R. 
Bosworth. 



MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE. 

The first meeting of this committee was held at the 
house of the Hon. H. G. Knight, on Wednesday evening, 
June 11, 1884. At this meeting it was voted that H. (J. 
Knight be made permanent chairman, and C. B. Johnson 
was made secretary. The chairman and secretary were 



4 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

directed to prepare an outline of a celebration which it 
would seem proper to present to the town for its consider- 
ation, and to lay the proposed outline before the committee 
at a future meeting. 

The second meeting was held on Friday evening, Sept. 
12, at the office of C. B. Johnson. The president, from the 
sub-committee, presented an outline of a plan for the cele- 
bration, but no definite action upon the details was taken. 
Wm. N. Clapp. L. D. Lyman and A. B. Lyman were 
appointed a sub-committee to prepare a list of natives of 
the town, or former residents now residing elsewhere, to 
whom it would be desirable to send invitations to attend 
the celebration. 

The third meeting was held on the evening of Nov. 28. 
At this meeting it was voted to request the Selectmen to 
call a special town meeting on Saturday, the 27th of De- 
cember, and that an article be inserted in the warrant 
under which an outline of the celebration could be pre- 
sented, for the consideration and approval of the town, as 
voted at a former meeting. 



ARTICLE IN WARRANT FOR SPECIAL MEETING DEC. 27, 1884. 

[Page 233.] 

Art. .'}. — To receive a report of the committee on 
program for the town's centennial celebration and take 
such action thereon as may be deemed expedient. 



REPORT OP COMMITTEE AT SPECIAL MEETING DEC. 27, 1884. 

[Page 236.] 

Easthampton, Dec. 27, L884. 

The committee appointed to prepare an order of ex- 
ercises for the celebration of the one hundredth anni- 
versary of the incorportion of the Town have attended to 
the duty assigned them and now make the following 
report: 

The committee agree that the 17th of June is the 
proper day to celebrate, that being the centennial anni- 
versary of the date when the act of incorporation was 
signed, and by a singular coincidence it is the date of the 
battle of Bunker Hill, and the birthday of Easthampton's 
most distinguished son, Samuel Williston. It is assumed 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. O 

that in a matter of such general interest a large majority 
of the inhabitants will participate in the exercises of the 
day. Otherwise the celebration cannot be what the oc- 
casion demands. 

The town has already voted to celebrate the day in a 
suitable manner. A celebration both suitable and credit- 
able to the town will be attended with considerable ex- 
pense, but in view of present business depression and 
'"prospective hard times" it may be advisable to omit some 
things which might otherwise be included in the program. 
It was easy for the committee to agree upon a general plan 
for the celebration. The manner of providing entertain- 
ment for invited guests and others is a somewhat difficult 
problem to solve. The details of that matter and of 
various others must be arranged by committees to be ap- 
pointed hereafter. 

The principal items of expense will be for an orator, 
a poet, music, printing, the entertainment and carriages 
for distinguished guests. A salute although customary on 
such occasions is not deemed essential. Should a tent be 
procured for the dinner or collation and the after dinner 
exercises, that will be a considerable item of expense. 

A procession representing the various industries and 
institutions of the town may be made an interesting and 
instructive feature of the celebration and will not neces- 
sarily be attended with expense to the town, except for 
carriages. It is hoped that our public spirited citizens 
connected with the corporations and other business in- 
terests will not fail to make this part of the program 
eminently successful. 

The Seminary and our public schools should have a 
prominent place in the exercises. 

The committee recommend that all non-resident 
natives of the town and other persons who were formerly 
residents for any considerable period, be invited to par- 
ticipate in the celebration. Also that invitations be ex- 
tended to His Excellency the Governor and other state 
officials, some members of Congress, our county officers 
and the officers of adjoining towns and cities, especially 
the mother town, now city of Northampton. 

The committee also recommend that there be now 



D EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

appointed an executive committee who shall be charged 
with the duty of designating a Chief-marshal, a President 
of the day, Chaplain, Orator, Poet, a person to deliver an 
address of welcome and a toast master; also to appoint com- 
mittees on invitation, reception, decoration, salute, etc., 
music, procession, entertainment and any other commit- 
tees or officers that may be required. 

In estimating the expenses of the celebration, your 
committee have been aided by the experience of other 
towns. One town with a valuation and population a little 
greater than our own, celebrated its centennial at an 
expense of $2,250, of which $1,500 was appropriated by the 
town, and $750 was received from other sources, chiefly 
for collation tickets, concert tickets and admissions to the 
museum. 

It is believed that our program can be carried out at 
an expense to the town not exceeding $1,500. It will be 
for the town to decide now or at a future meeting what 
amount it will appropriate for defraying the expenses of 
its centennial celebration, and committees having charge 
of the details must govern themselves accordingly. 

The executive committee should be held responsible 
for the expenditure of all money raised by the town. 

This report indicates what the order of exercises 
should be. A complete program connot be made till the 
time draws nigh for the proposed celebration. 
Respectfully submitted, 

HORATIO G. KNIGHT, 

LAUREN D. LYMAN, 

CHAS. B. JOHNSON, 

ANSEL B. LYMAN, j- Committee. 

E. R. BOSWORTH. 

WILLIAM N. CLAPP. 

LEWIS S. CLARK. 



VOTE FOR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ETC. 
[Page 240.] 

On motion of H. G. Knight it was voted: That an 
executive committee be appointed for the purposes recom- 
mended in the report, provided said committee shall not 
incur any expense to the town till an appropriation is 
made for expenses of a celebration. 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 7 

On motion of Wm. Hill it was voted that the commit- 
tee who had the matter in charge be that committee. 
On motion of Mr. Knight, J. H. Sawyer, E. T. Sawyer, 
F. H. Putnam and John Mayher were added to the execu- 
tive committee. 



ARTICLE IN WARRANT FOR ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH, 1885. 

[Page 245.] 

Art. 23. — To see if the town will raise a sum of money 
to defray the expenses of celebrating the one hundredth 
anniversary of its incorporation. 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE. 
[Page 249.] 

The centennial executive committee appointed at a 
special town meeting held in December last, present the 
following report: 

At its first meeting, after having made choice of a 
chairman and a secretary, the committee agreed to a 
proposition to invite Judge William G. Bassett to prepare 
and deliver an oration and appointed a sub-committee 
with authority to engage some person to write a poem to 
be read on the occasion of the proposed celebration. 

At subsequent meetings some progress was made in 
the matter of designating certain officers of the day and 
appointing special committees: but it was apparent that 
this work could not be completed, nor was its completion 
necessary till the town had made an appropriation to 
defray the expenses of celebrating its centennial. The 
executive committee desire that the various institutions 
and industries of the town as well as all the professions, 
may be properly represented on the special committees 
by persons of every nationality residing within its limits. 
The success of the enterprise will depend in a great 
measure upon the efficiency of these sub-committees. 

It will be the earnest endeavor of the executive 
committee with the co-operation of their enterprising 
fellow citizens to make the celebration both creditable 
and advantageous to the town and an occasion that will 
be remembered with satisfaction and pleasure by all who 
may participate in the exercises of the day. 



8 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

They concur in the opinion expressed by a former 
committee that an appropriation of 81,500 will be sufficient 
to meet the necessary and proper expenses attending the 
proposed celebration. 

Respectfully submitted for the Committee, 

Horatio G. Knight, Chairman. 
Easthampton, March 9, 1885. 



VOTE OF THE APPROPRIATION. 

[Page 255] 

William Hill submitted the following motion: 
Voted, That the sum of 81,500 be and is hereby ap- 
propriated to defray the expenses of celebrating the one 
hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of the town, 
the same or such part thereof as may be required to be 
expended under the direction of the centennial executive 
committee who shall be held responsible for its judicious 
use and shall report thereon to the town at its next 
annual meeting or at an earlier date. 

After a lengthy discussion of the subject and a 
number of motions amending it, stating larger and 
smaller sums, the original motion was declared carried 
by the following vote. Yea 110. Nay 27. 



meetings of the committee. 

The first meeting of the new centennial committee was 
held at the office of the Williston & Knight Co., on the 
evening of Jan. 14. H. G. Knight was again chosen per- 
manent chairman and C. B. Johnson, secretary. 

The next meeting was held at the Mansion House on 
the afternoon of March 14. At this meeting F. H. Putnam 
and E. Waldo Lyman were added to the committee to look 
up the names of natives and former residents to whom 
invitations should be sent. Many of the appointments for 
the day were made at this time. Voted that Wm. Hill, 
E. W. Wood, Geo. H. McCandless, L. W. Dower and Emil 
C. Messerschmidt with others whom they may add. be a 
committee to provide for the entertainment of invited 
guests and others. Voted to invite the Principal and 
Faculty of the Seminary to co-operate in the celebration: 
also to extend an invitation to the Geo. C. Strong Post of 
the G. A. R. 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. V 

Next meeting at the Mansion House on the evening of 
April 7th. At this meeting it was voted that invitations to 
join in the procession be extended to all the manufacturers, 
merchants, tradesmen and mechanics in the town; and that 
the farmers also be invited to have their important interest 
represented. Also voted that the Grand Army Post and 
the Fire Department, each, be invited to appear in a body to 
do escort duty. Most of the remaining committees were 
appointed at this meeting by the approval and adoption of 
a schedule then presented. 

Wednesday evening, May 13th. At the invitation of 
Mr. Knight the centennial committee took tea at the Mansion 
House, and afterwards held a meeting to perfect arrange- 
ments. Voted that the George C. Strong Post be requested 
to join with the committee in extending an invitation to 
the Wm. L. Baker Post of Northampton. Voted that 
H. B. Allen and S. C. Wood from the committee on deco- 
rations. Dr. F. C. Greene from the committee on toasts and 
exercises in tent, E. R. Bosworth from the committee on 
reception, Oscar Ward from the committee on salute, 
Emory Munyan and J. F. Finch from the committee on 
vocal and instrumental music, James H. Lyman and 
Watson H. Wright from the committee on public schools, 
J. A. Loomis, J. W. Green, Jr. and J. F. Burt from the 
committee on procession, Wm. Hill from the committee on 
entertainment, and O. H. Dodge and E. C. Koenig from the 
committee on illuminations, be requested to call a meeting 
of their respective committees for the purpose of organ- 
ization. 

Next meeting, Saturday evening, May 23d. Voted that 
the committee on salute be instructed to fire a salute of K) 
guns, one for each decade since we became a distinct 
municipality, commencing at sunrise on the morning of 
the celebration, and that they cause all the bells in the 
town to be rung, and all the si cam whistles to be blown, 
beginning at the same hour and continuing twenty min- 
utes. Voted to inform the George C. Strong Post of this 
town that if it is their pleasure to invite the Wm. L. Baker 
Post to attend the celebration as their guests, that the 
committee will furnish the visiting post with collation 
tickets the same as other invited guests. Voted that no 



10 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

free tickets to the collation be furnished to citizens of the 
town. 

Next meeting, Wednesday evening, May 27th. The com- 
mittee took tea with E. R. Bosworth at the Mansion House. 
F. H. Putnam was chosen treasurer; E. R. Bosworth, C. B. 
Johnson and A. B. Lyman were appointed a committee on 
finance. 

Next meeting, Saturday evening, May 30th. Voted that 
the president be requested to make arrangements with the 
railroad companies for the running of extra trains; that 
E. R. Bosworth be a committee to procure such police force 
as may be needed; that the preparation and sale of tickets 
for the collation be put into the hands of the finance com- 
mittee and Mr. Wm. Hill. 

Next meeting, Monday evening, June 8th. Voted that 
Dr.H. A. Deane, G. H. Pomeroy and A. F. Totman be a com- 
mittee to collect and arrange a museum of ancient and 
modern articles, for exhibition on the 17th, to be called the 
"Centennial Museum." 

The final meeting before the celebration was held Mon- 
day evening, June 15th. At this meeting various sub-com- 
mittees reported their work in a good state of forwardness. 

John Mayher, E. T. Sawyer and Joseph H. Sawyer 
declined to serve on the executive committee. 



The form of invitation sent out is shown on the 
succeeding page. Return envelopes were sent and a 
card on which was printed the words "accept" and 
"decline" for convenience in replying. Invitations were 
sent out as early as the first of May and the committee 
continued to send them out as names occurred to them 
or were mentioned to them till the day before the cele- 
bration. In all invitations were sent to some GOO persons 
a majority of whom accepted. The executive commit te 
realizing that it would be impossible to think of all who 
were entitled to invitations, caused the following notice 
to be published in the Hampshire Gazette of June 9th 
and the Easthampton News of June 5th. 

"The committee wish it distinctly understood that all natives of the 
town, who are non-residents ami all who have resided here for a con- 
siderable length <>f time and are not now residents, are invited and 
will he entitled to the hospitalities of the town on that day. II' any 
such have not received a special invitation, it is because of oversight." 



1785. 1885. 




EASTHAMPTON'S CENTENNIAL. 

You are hereby cordially invited to attend and participate 
in the celebration of the 

ONE HUNDREDTH MNIVERSKRY 

of the incorporation of Easthampton, on Wednesday, 
JUNE 17TH, A. D. 1885. 

The order of Exercises is expected to include: — a 
Centennial Salute at Sunrise, an Address of Welcome, 
a Centennial Oration, an Original Poem, Vocal and 
Instrumental Music, a Procession representing the vari- 
ous Industries of the Town, and a Collation which will be 
served in a large tent and followed with Toasts and 
Speeches. 

As it is desirable to know as early as possible the 
number of guests to be entertained, you will please report 
your intention, on or before May 20th, by returning the in- 
closed card with name or names, written in full, under 
the words Decline or Accept. 

A Reception Committee will be in session in the Town 
Hall at 8 o'clock on the morning of the Celebration, to 
welcome invited guests, give all needful information and 
furnish tickets for the Collation and Exercises in the Tent. 

It is intended to make this a Grand Reunion of Fam- 
ilies, Old Friends and Acquaintances, and the occasion 
will doubtless be one of great interest to all who may be 
present. 

Numerous trains upon the New Haven and North- 
ampton and Connecticut River Railroads make Easthamp- 
ton easily accessible. 

For the Executive Committee, 
Chas. B. Johnson, Secy. Horatio G. Knight, ( 'hm. 

Committee, Appointed Dec. 27, L884: 
Edwin R. Bosworth, Wm. N. Clapp, 

Lewis S. Clark. Chas. B. Johnson. 

H. G. Knioht. Lauren D. Lyman, 

Ansel B. Lyman. John Mayher, 

Francis H. Putnam, E. T. Sawyer. 

Joseph H. Sawyer. 



12 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

APPOINTMENTS BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 



President of the Day, Horatio G. Knight. 

Chief Marshal, ' Sheriff J. E. Clark. 

Address of Welcome, Lucius E. Parsons. 

Oration, Judge Wm. G. Bassett. 

Poem, Mrs. N. K. Bradford. 

Chaplain, Rev. A. M. Colton. 

To Preside at Tables, Rev. W. F. Bacon. 

Prayer at Tables, Rev. C. H. Hamlin. 

Committee on Decorations. — H. B. Allen and wife, Thomas 
Buffum and wife, Justin H. Bassett and wife, Emily C Barron, 
A. J. Chase and wife, James Clink and wife, E. M. Ferry and wife, 
F. J. Gould and wife, E. A. Hannum and wife, H. A. Goodenough 
and wife, Wm. Gordon and wife, PI H. Howland and wife, J. E. Hull 
and wife, I. H. Lloyd and wife, G. M. Johnson and wife, H, G. 
Meserve and wife, H. F. Pomeroy and wife, H. A. Parsons and 
wife, Edward Painter and wife, L. M. Preston and wife, Geo. H. 
Pomeroy and wife, Chas. S. Rust and wife, Laura A. Rudd, M. 
D. Strong and wife, S. C. Wood and wife. One fourth of this com- 
mittee may be a quorum. 

Committee on Toasts and Exercises in Tent. — Rev. W. F. 
Bacon, Dr. H. A. Deane, Dr. F. C. Greene, Rev. F. G. Morris, 
Henry H. Sawyer, L. E. Torrey. 

Committee on Salute. — Oscar Ward, Crawford G. Ewing, 
Samuel Phelps, Robert Oliver. 

Reception Committee. — E. R. Bosworth and wife, A. S. Lud- 
den and wife, A. E Abbott and wife, L. Preston and wife, J. W. 
Wilson and wife, Wm. E. Topliff and wife, S. S. Avery and wife, 
J. H. Bardwell and wife, J. F. Finch and wife, R. P. Keep and 
wife, E. W. Lyman and daughter, Q. P. Lyman and wife, A. J. 
Lyman and wife, G. H. Newman and wife, H. Oberempt and wife, 
L. B. Searle and wife, W. J. Sheehan and wife, Dr. J. W. Winslow 
and wife, Luther L. Wright and wife. 

Committee on Vocal Music — Emory Munyan, J. W. Green, 
Jr., C H. Johnson, L. W. Dower, 0. H. Hill. 

Instrumental Music. — J. F. Finch, Geo. A. Hill, N. M. Finch, 
W. J. Bly. 

Committee on Public Schools. — James H. Lyman, Watson H. 
Wright, Miss S. E. Chapin, J. H. Willard. 

Committee on Procession. — E. S. Alvord, L. N. Baldwin, 
James Keene, J. A. Loomis, Geo. L. Manchester, A. A. Mann, 
F. P. Newkirk, B. P.Owen, D.J. O'Donnell,. W. L. Richmond, 
W. J. Sheehan, M. F. Taintor, I. H. Russell, G. H. Leonard, J. 
W. Green, Jr., D. W. Rust, H. L. Clark, John Mavher, 0. G. 
Webster, L. N. Dibble, W. F. Alvord, Thomas Buffum, J. S. 
Smith, J. F. Burt, J. F. Clark, C. E. Ferry, H. T. Hannum, 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 13 

J. N. Hendrick, Justus Lyman, Theoren Pomeroy, Calvin 8. Strong, 
J. S. Stratton, Z. A. Thayer, C. Kaplinger, E. H. Ludden, Mar- 
tin Rich, N. H. Ranney, John Smith. One third of this com- 
mittee may be a quorum. 

Committee on Entertainment, Tents and Tables. — Wm. Hill, 
E. W. Wood, G. H. McCandless, E. L. Messerschmidt, M. J. Loomis, 
L. W. Dower. E. D. Smith, F. H. Kimball, Walstein Graves, 
D. C. Spear, Wm. E. Spooner, Frank H. Pomeroy, H. B. Shoals, 
Wm. G. Taylor, A. Fairchild, Francis Newton. 

Committee on Illumination and Fireworks. — H. D. Brierley, 
H. E. Barnett, Charles L. Blakney, Almon S. Chapman, Charles 
H. Caswell, Charles Diamond, 0. H. Dodge, E. C. Koenig, A. 
S. King, Monroe S. Knight, James E. Reece, C.J. Smith, E. H. 
Sawyer, A. F. Totman, J. H. Ward. 

Committee on Museum. — Dr. H. A. Deane, G. H. Pomeroy, 
A. F. Totman. 



The decoration committee erected three arches, each 
draped with red, white and blue bunting and each bearing 
the word "Welcome" in large letters, one across Manhan 
Street at the top of the hill near the Mansion House, one 
across Pleasant Street opposite the High school building 
and one across Union Street toward the railroads from 
School Street. A large banner of the national colors 
bearing the word "welcome" was suspended across Main 
Street near the residence of J. E. Clark. The words 
"welcome" were displayed outwardly and the three arches 
and banner covered the approaches of the town, so that 
no one could enter without passing under some one of 
them. The outside of the Town Hall, including the 
tower, was profusely draped with the national colors. 
On the front of the Hall, above the porch, were the words 
"Easthampton's Centennial." Inside the Hall, across the 
passage at the foot of the stairs, was the inscription. "Our 
Centennial," painted on a handsome arch. The words, 
"Reception Committee" were displayed over the door to the 
lower hall, where that committee had their headquarters. 
The decorations in the main audience room were elaborate 
and tasteful. The stage was spanned by a very handsome 
arch of red, white and blue, surmounted by a group of 
large flags and a stuffed eagle. At each base was the 
national shield and above them the dates 1785 and L885 
respectively. A large bank of flowers, ferns and potted 



14 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

plants was arranged in front of the desk with a harp 
worked in white daisies as a center piece. Wreaths of 
evergreens and small flags in pairs were hung upon the 
walls and gallery. Between the street and sidewalk, 
across the road from the Town Hall tower, a tall liberty 
pole was erected and two flags, each 36 feet long, were 
hung over the street by a rope extending from the 
liberty pole to the tower. The pole was painted of a 
bright red color, varnished and surmounted with a gilt 
ball and eagle through the efforts of Mr. L. G. Fales. 
At the tent five large flags were arranged round each of 
the center poles and four to six small ones about each 
of the small standards at the eaves. 

The houses of private citizens were generally deco- 
rated with flags, bunting and Chinese lanterns. 



The committee on entertainment asked for proposals 
from Boston parties for furnishing the centennial collation, 
but could find no one willing to undertake the task for less 
than 75 cents per plate. The committee desired that the 
dinner should be furnished at so low a figure that the 
citizens of the town generally would be able to enjoy this 
part of the entertainment. The way was opened when 
Mr. Wm. Hill reluctantly consented to provide the dinner 
at 50 cents per plate. After a particular understanding of 
what would be furnished and how it would be served, this 
offer was gladly accepted by the committee on entertainment 
and the executive committee. A tent 200 feet long and 57 
feet wide was hired from James Martin & Son of Boston, 
and was erected on the Seminary campus. The tables 
were supported by stakes driven into the ground and were 
covered with cotton cloth. 1408 plates were set. The plat- 
form for the speakers was at the middle of the tent on the 
south side. The tables were arranged crosswise in both 
ends of the tent, and lengthwise of the tent in its center, 
opposite the platform. Tickets for the collation were 
printed and put on sale several days beforehand at conven- 
ient places. The solid portions of the collation were put 
up in neat paper boxes, all filled alike. The Conn. R. R. R. 
company generously transported the tent over their line 
free of expend ■. 



PROGRAMME. 



HON. HORATIO G. KNIGHT, PRESIDENT OF THE DAY. 



Order of Exercises adopted by the Executive Committee. 



1. Salute of ten guns, one for each decade, and ringing of bells at 

sunrise. 

2. Salute of four guns on arrival of the Governor. 



3. At 8.30 o'clock, A. M., the procession will form and move at 
9.30 over the route given in the order of the Chief Maishal. 



EXERCISES IN THE TOWN HALL, 12 O'CLOCK. 

1. Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah. 

2. Reading of Scripture by Rev. J. F. Mears. 

3. Prayer by Rev. A. M. Colton. 

4. Address of Welcome by Mr. L. E. Parsons. 

5. Keller's American Hymn. 

6. Oration by Judge Wm. G. Bassett. 

7. Music by Easthampton Orchestral Club. 

8. Poem by Mrs. N. K. Bradford. 

9. Dudley Buck's Festival Hymn. 

Mr. Joseph W. Green, Jr., Director of Music. 



EXERCISES IN THE TENT, 2 O'CLOCK. 

1. Blessing Invoked by Rev. C. H. Hamlin. 

2. After Dinner Exercises, at which the Rev. W. F. Bacon* will 

preside. 

3. Sentiments and Responses, H. H. Sawyer, Toast Master. 

4. A familiar hymn by the whole assembly, leader, Mr. Emory 

Munyan. 
*Absent on account of illness. 



16 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

5. Reunion of families, old friends and acquaintances. 

Music by Easthampton Orchestral Club, A. N. Baldwin, 
leader. 



EVENING EXERCISES, 8 O'CLOCK. 
Fireworks by Hasten & Wells of Boston, and a Band Con- 
cert near the house of A. B. Lyman on Main Street. 



MARSHAL'S ORDER. 



Formation and Order of Procession. 



The Procession will form at 8.30 A. M. 

FIRST DIVISION. 

On Main and Park Streets, the right resting on Union, in 

the following order: 

Platoon of mounted police. 

Chief Marshal, J. E. Clark. 

Aids: Oscar Ward, Austin Fairchild, J. H. Murray and H. F. 

Pomeroy. 

Chief of Division: E. E. Janes. 

Aids: E. M. Ferry and I. A. Mowry. 

Easthampton Cornet Band. 

George C. Strong Post, No. 166, G. A. R. 

Wm. L. Baker Post, No. 86, G. A. R. 

Executive committee. 

Town Officers. 

President, Orator and Poet of the Day. 

His Excellency the Governor and staff. 

His Honor the Lieut. Governor. 

Members of Congress, Judges of the Supreme, Superior and 

District courts, Heads of State Departments. 

County Officials. 

City and Town Officers from neighboring cities and towns. 

Invited Guests and Former Residents. 



SECOND DIVISION. 
On Center Street, right resting on Park Street, in the fol- 
lowing order: 
Chief of Division: E. C. Kcenig. 
Aids: B. P. Owen and H. E. Barnett. 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 17 

Public Schools. 

Band of Passacommuck Indians. 

Societies. 

Employes of the Glendale Elastic Fabrics Co. 

Employes of the Nashawannuek Manufacturing Co. 

Belding's Band of Northampton. 

Manhan Engine Co. 

Manhan Hose Co. 

Alert Hose Co. 

Nashawannuek Hose Co. 

Hook and Ladder Co. 

Running Hose Team. 



THIRD DIVISION. 

On Main Street, right resting on Park Street. 

Chief of division : 0. G. Webster. 

Aids: C. E. Ferry, Frank D. Barnes, L. N. Dibble, W. H. Lloyd. 

St. Jerome Drum Corps of Holyoke. 
This Division will consist of the Representatives of the Industries 

of the Town. 



LINE OF MARCH. 

The Procession will move promptly at 9.30 A. M. on the fol- 
lowing route: Up Main Street to Pleasant, down Pleasant to 
Williston Mills, when the 1st and 2nd divisions countermarch on 
Pleasant, through Prospect and High to Union, down Union to 
Cottage, Cottage to Adams, from Adams through Briggs and 
Franklin, when they will be joined by the 3d division on Clark St. 
The column will then move through Clark St. to Cottage, through 
Cottage to Union, Union to Center, Center to Main, Main to Glen- 
dale, Glendale to Wright, Wright to Main, Main to Payson Lane, 
Payson Lane to Park, up Park and Main to the Town Hall, where 
the procession will be reviewed by the official guests; then past the 
Mansion House to Pleasant St., from Pleasant to Prospect, where 
the column will be dismissed. 

The 3d division, after passing the Williston Mills, will go 
through Ferry and Parsons Streets to Mountain, from Mountain 
to Clark, down Clark to Franklin, where it will meet the other 
two divisions. 

J. E. CLARK, Chief Marshal. 



18 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

Toward the last it began to be more fully realized that 
the coming celebration was an event of a hundred years, 
and an ambition was felt to make the most of it. The 
enthusiasm became general; emulation was aroused and 
plans were widened. To meet the unusual demands of 
business and to get their exhibits ready, taxed the energies 
of many to the utmost. During the last few days the 
committees worked unceasingly. The night of the 10th 
settled down upon a wearied but expectant community, 
not without forebodings lest a rainy day on the morrow 
should mar their anticipated pleasures. 



THE CELEBRATION. 



At sunrise on the 17th the opening of the second cen- 
tury of Easthampton was ushered in by a salute of ten 
guns and the ringing of bells and blowing of steam whis- 
tles. About six o'clock the clouds grew thick and rain 
began to fall, causing no little apprehension; but at eight 
o'clock the rain ceased and the clouds cleared away, leav- 
ing the dust well laid, without making the streets muddy, 
and the air cool for the season. It was one of the most 
perfect of June days. The streets were soon thronged 
with visitors and with carriages and exhibits and troops of 
men moving to their places in the procession. The recep- 
tion committee received the invited guests, as fast as they 
arrived, in the Lower Town Hall and furnished them with 
tickets to the collation. 

His Excellency the Governor, Geo. D. Robinson, and 
his Honor the Lieutenant Governor, Oliver Ames, and six 
members of the Staff arrived by special car from Spring- 
field soon after nine o'clock and were met at the Conn. R. 
R. R. depot by the President of the day and E. R. Bosworth, 
chairman of the reception committee. A salute of four 
guns was fired in honor of his arrival. The party repaired 
to the Mansion House where an informal reception was 
held for about an hour, or till the procession was ready to 
start. The procession was late owing to delay in getting 
some of the exhibits ready. At LO. 30, Chief Marshal Clark, 
mounted and stationed near the junction of Main and 



20 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

Union streets, gave the order to advance and 

THE PROCESSION 

.Moved in the following order: — 

Platoon of mounted police, consisting of deputy 
sheriffs Ansel Wright of Northampton. Geo. B. Gallond 
of Amherst. H. M. Potter of Northampton, E. G. Wells of 
Enfield, L. W. Dower of Easthampton, Chas. S. Robinson 
of Ware, E. T. Hervey of Northampton, Thomas A. Orcutt 
of Florence. Fred W. Wright of Northampton, Henry A. 
Bisbee of Williamsburgh, Henry O'Caryl of Ware, Geo. 
M. Lindsey of Huntington, David M. Donaldson of South 
Badley Falls. Reuben Bell of Hadley. and William Burnett 
of Belchertown. 

Chief Marshal: J. E. Clark. 

Aids: Oscar Ward, Austin Fairchild, J. H. Murray and 
H. F. Pome i(»\. 

FIRST DIVISION 



Chief of Division: E. E. Janes. 

Aids: E. M. Ferry and I. A. Mowry. 

Easthampton Cornet Band. 20 pieces, J. W. Smith, 
leader. 

George C. Strong Post, No. 1(56, G. A. R. with the fol- 
lowing men in line: — C. E. Ware Commander. A. S. King, 
,1 us) us Lyman, Chas. Johnson. Wm. G. Taylor. Alvin 
Clark. Thos. Connelly, Chas. B. Hendrick. L. C. Nye. John 
Webber, Stephen Haley. E. A. Burnham. L. L. Wright. 
Win. E. Clapp, Alfred Shaw. Ferdinand Klinge. Alhin 
Riedel, Francis Holbridge, John Mahoney, Newman Bart- 
lett, Nelson Kingsl.y. T. W. Collier. Lewis Frary. A. P. 
Blanchard, X. A. Aldrich, Otis Witherell. Sylvester 
Hooper and C. N. Loud. 

Wm. L. Baker Post, of Northampton, No. 86, G. A. R. 

Carriage containing E. K. Bosworth, A. S. Ludden and 
A. Iv Abbott, Selectmen, and Wm. E. Topliff, Assessor. 

Carriage containing His Excellency, Geo. D. Robinson. 
Governor of Massachusetts, and two members of his Staff, 
and Hon. II. G. Knight. President of the day. 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 21 

Carriage containing His Honor. Oliver Ames, Lieut. 
Governor of Massachusetts, and two members of the Staff, 
and Judge Wm. G. Bassett, Orator of the day. 

Other carriages containing members of the Executive 
committee, National. State and County officers, and officers 
of adjoining city and towns, clergymen, former teachers 
in the Seminary, invited guests and citizens; in all sixteen 
carriages. 

SECOND DIVISION. 



Chief of Division: E. C. Koenig. 

Aids: B. P. Owen and H. E. Barnett. 

Belding's Brass Band, of Northampton, 23 pieces. 

Manhan Engine Company. 23 men. G. S. Buckner, 
Foreman; John A. Kearns. acting first assistant; Frank 
Nadeau, acting second assistant. Uniform, red jackets 
trimmed with dark blue, and dark blue caps, black belts 
with red panel and name of company in white letters. 
Hand engine drawn by two horses and spanned by arches 
of evergreens and flowers, decorated with Mags and the 
national colors. Between the arches rode a boy, Charles 
Rust, and a girl, Maggie Hannigan, carrying flags. 

Manhan Hose Company. 12 men, in uniform similar 
to the engine company. Hose cart drawn by a horse, and 
decorated with evergreens, flowers, flags, etc., and bear- 
ing the name. ••Manhan Hose,'* in gilt letters on a dark 
ground. A hoy. Charles Gough, rode under an arch, carry- 
ing a flag. 

Alert Hose Company. 12 men. Jerry Maloney, Fore- 
man; John Clair, first assistant: Michael Maloney. second 
assistant. Uniform, white flannel shirts, trimmed with 
dark blue, and dark blue caps, black hells with red panel 
and aame of company in white letters. Rose cart marked 
•\\. 2.," in gilt, trimmed with evergreens, flowers and flags 
and drawn by a horse 

NTashawannuck Hose Company. Rudolph Voigt, Fore- 
man. \-> men. drawing hose cart with the letter "N" 
hung from the center of an arch trimmed with evergreens, 
flowers and flags. Uniform, gray flannel shirts trimmed 
with red. and dark blue caps, black belts witli red panel 
and name of company in white letters. 



22 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

Hook and Ladder Company. 13 men. John Leitch. 
Jr.. Acting Foreman; Geo. C. Lloyd, acting assistant. 
Uniform, light bine flannel shirts trimmed with red and 
white, and black helmet hats, red belts with black panel 
and name of company in white letters, Hook and Ladder 
truck, drawn by two horses, and trimmed with evergreens, 
flags and bunting. 

Running Hose Cart, drawn by 18 boys in white shirts 
and red worsted caps. James Coyle, Acting Foreman. 

Employes of the Glendale Elastic Fabrics Company. 

Band of Pascommuck Indians, represented by Fred 
Burt, Milo S. Davoll. Frank Dibble, Lyman Dibble. Frank 
Martin, Fred Pomeroy. J. A. Smith and Herbert Wright, 
dressed in Indian costumes. 

E. H. Howland. Business wagon with load of flower- 
ing plants in bloom, tastefully arranged; both horse and 
wagon trimmed with smilax. The team was driven by 
a boy, Willie Howland, and girl. Edna Russell, both 
covered with flowers. INI iss Russell carried a floral 
parasol. 

The Easthampton News. Two horse team with plat- 
form and covering, appropriately trimmed. Name of the 
newspaper marked plainly on each side. Exhibit: type 
cases and compositor at work, and a press in operation, 
printing souvenir programs of the day. which were 
distributed among the bystanders. 

Doctors H. A. Deane and G. H. Pomeroy dressed in 
the costume of loo years ago. and riding in an old- 
fashioned wagon. 

THIRD DIVISION. 



( !hief of Division: < >. < I. Webster. 

Aids: C. E. Ferry. Frank D. Barnes. L. N. Dibble and 
W. H. Lloyd. 

St. Jerome's Temperance Drum Corps, of Holyoke, li 

pieces. 

Mi-, and Mrs. ,J. F. Burt in costume of the style worn 
at the beginning of the century, riding in a chaise of the 
same period. 

Dwighl ('. Coleman represented a young farmer of the 
olden lime, with an old-fashioned ox-cart and hay rack 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 23 

loaned by Mr. Watson Wright, and drawn by oxen. On 
the cart were two old hand fans, two horse pokes, four old- 
fashioned lanterns of different patterns, an old-fashioned 
plow, cultivator, harrow and field jug. 

C. S. Strong and E. E. Wood. Four-horse team. 
Wagon, with covering of evergreens, carrying a spinning 
wheel for wool, flax wheel, reel, quiller, bog hoe, sickles, 
tin lantern, candle mold. etc.. also modern fanning mill 
and plow. 

O. C. Burt, dressed to represent a physician of the 
olden time, riding in a one-seated doctor's gig of very 
ancient pattern; gig loaned by John Lyman of South 
Hadley. 

Wm. N. Clapp. Two horse team, with flax brake, 
hatchel, swingling board and swingling knife. Mr. Clapp 
illustrated the breaking, hatcheling and dressing of flax, 
preparing it for the spinning wheel after the manner in the 
olden time. 

Charles E. Ferry. Exhibit of New Model Buckeye 
mowing machine, in full rig ready for work, mounted on a 
platform; the whole drawn by two horses with lettered 
blankets, and ornamented with flags and bunting and 
covered with advertising signs. 

R. F. Underwood. Champion Light Reaper, in opera- 
tion, same as in reaping. Drawn by pair of horses. 

J. F. Burt. Four-horse team, trimmed with evergreens, 
and loaded with milk cans, and occupied by his sons, 
Clinton T. and Robt. W. Burt. The name. "Burt," was 
worked in large letters of daisies on each side. The 
blankets on the horses were marked. "1862-1885," the dates 
between which Mr. Burt had been engaged in the milk 
business. 

Wm. F. Bement. Covered milk delivery wagon with 
decorations and load of cans. 

Solon Lyman. Milk delivery wagon, with suitable 
decorations. 

Hampton Co-opera1 ive Creamery Association. Covered 
wagon used in collecting cream, containing the large cans 
used in collecting, a churn, butter boxes, and some of the 
chests used for packing in large quantities. Drawn by 



24 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

two horses labeled •'Hampton Creamery." All decorated 
with flags. 

The Manhan Mills, J. T. Thayer, proprietor. Repre- 
sented by a two-horse team loaded high with grain. [The 
Manhan Mills occupy the site of the first grist mill built 
in the territory now called Easthampton. A grist mill 
has stood on this site most of the time for nearly 200 years. J 

Williston & Knight Company. Two exhibits. First, 
two horse team with workpeople showing the old style of 
making buttons by covering wooden molds with cloth by 
hand, and others at work with power machines, attached 
to the wheels, showing the process of covering at the pres- 
ent time. On the same wagon were shown the operations 
of cutting covers and carding and boxing the buttons. 
The wagon w r as prettily trimmed and carried on each 
side the dates. "1785-1885," worked in white buttons. 

Second, four horse team, also prettily trimmed, repre- 
senting the mercantile department. Here were shown the 
manner of putting up and boxing the different kinds of 
buttons and a large load of cases directed to customers in 
the principal cities all over the United States and Canada. 

Nashawannuck Manufacturing Company. Four ex- 
hibits. First, two horse team representing the weaving 
department, in charge of Edward Painter, with a stock 
of skein yarn and spool yarn ready for the loom, and 
showing the colors produced at their dye house. A loom 
was shown in operation converting the yarn into web. 
Back of the loom a large pyramid of web, of elegant 
designs, showed the finished work of this section. The 
wagon was gaily trimmed with material used in the bus- 
iness. 

Second, two-horse team representing the leather room. 
in charge of Oscar Ward, showing the operations of cut- 
ting leathers, eyelet setting, tin-tipping, and trimming 
suspenders. 

Third, four-horse team (with handsome horses weighing 
6000 Lbs.) representing the finishing department, in charge 
of Thomas Buffum. Here wore shown the old-fashioned 
method of trimming web and stitching by hand ami the 
modern way of stitching by machinery, also the process of 
box making and packing suspenders in boxes. 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 25 

Fourth. Nashawannuck truck team loaded with finish- 
ed goods in boxes ready for market. 

The Williston Mills. Three exhibits. First, a team got- 
ten up by the young men, exhibiting a small cannon, and a 
brass weathercock formerly used on Williston Mill No. 2. 
The horse, cannon and weathercock were labeled, "A little 
less than 100 years old." In this wagon rode a person 
carrying a flint-lock gun and dressed in costume to repre- 
sent one of the original settlers. 

Second, a team representing the yarn business by a 
beam warper arranged the same as if in actual operation, 
with operatives in attendance, and filled by . 'Son spools of 
rod. white and blue yarn. 

Third and principal exhibit, a representation of the 
Abbott & Russell spinning frame, then a new invention, 
recently perfected at the Williston Mills, for converting 
cotton "sliver" into yarn at one process, and, at that time, 
already patented in the United States, Canada, England, 
Prussia. Belgium. France and Austria. In the back part 
of the wagon rode a lady, dressed in costume, spinning by 
hand on one of the old-fashioned wheels. 

A barouche, containing I. H. Russell, agent of the 
Williston Mills. F. W. Pitcher, treasurer, and Hon. T. T. 
Abbott of Lunenburg, 87 years of age, inventor of the 
Abbott & Russell spinning frame. 

Valley Machine Company. Four-horse team, loaded 
with nine steam pumps, weighing 2% tons. In the center 
stood a Valley pump of the largest size, weighing about 
one ton, with a capacity of 500 gallons per minute. On 
each side of this stood a Valley pump, smallest size. 
with a capacity of K» gallons a minute. In otic cud stood 
three Acme pumps of medium size: in the other, three 
Bucket Plunger pumps, also of medium size. Over all a 
sign reading, ••Steam Pumps. Valley Machine Company." 

Glendale Elastic Fabrics Company. Four horse team 
currying one of their i'ast looms for weaving gusset web. 
one large braiding machine for making elastic web and 
one tipping machine for putting tips on corset lacets and 
arm lacets. All the machinery was in operation by power 
derived from the wagon wheels. A roof of striped can- 
vass rested on six pillars trimmed with Hags and ever- 



26 EASTHAMPTOX CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

greens. On each side near the floor was the firm name 
lettered on cloth. Over all was a large and elegant adver- 
tising sign. 

Glenwood Mills. Webster & King, proprietors. This 
firm exhibited a complete model of their new silk factory 
on a scale of one foot to ten, the model being therefore 174- 
feet long; all neatly trimmed. The horses and harness 
were decorated with silk ribbons of the firm's own manu- 
facture. 

Dibble & Warner. Two-horse team representing the 
manufacture of suspenders and shoulder braces. The 
driver was mounted on a pedestal and dressed as a colossal 
comic figure, the costume including an ancient bonnet. All 
handsomely decorated. 

Merritt & Small. Two horse team and covered wagon, 
highly decorated with sign on each side. "Merritt & Small. 
Manufacturers of All Kinds of Solid Gold Goods, and 
Dealers in Watches. Clocks, Jewelry and Silverware" 
The wagon contained machinery used in manufacturing 
jewelry and proceeded with rolls, polishing lathe, press 
and forge in operation. 

M. J. Ulrich & Co. Exhibit of the Patent Oscillating 
steam engine in operation. This engine was then a new 
invention, and designed as a motor for light machinery. 

E. W. Wood. Six horse team. Store on wheels. 
Platform 22 by 9 feet, round which hung a strip, oO inches 
wide, of fine paper hangings. A railing round the plat- 
form 18 inches high was constructed in three parts, on 
each side, of package goods, paper hangings and canned 
goods respectively. Clerks at the counter, extending 
lengthwise, were busily grinding coffee and putting up 
groceries, fruits, etc. Overhead hung dry goods, boots 
and shoes and general merchandise. The second platform, 
8 feet above the lower one. was reached by stairs. Here 
rode the Florence brass band of II pieces. On each side 
were signs. "1785-E. W. Wood-1885." All profusely 
decorated. 

C. J. Smith. Four horses trimmed with American 
flags, and with blankets inscribed. "Smith's Pharmacy, 
Pure Drugs. L785-1885, L866 [date of beginning business.] 
-1885. The large wagon, with cover, was elaborately trim- 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 27 

med with bunting and silk flags, and carried a crate of 
sponges, a rack tilled with patent medicines and fluid 
extracts, and another with paints and oils. A workman was 
grinding drugs in a mortar about 100 years old. Another 
at a counter compounded pills and weighed out drugs. 

Putnam & McCandless. Four horses, bearing the 
name of the firm on their blankets, drew a striking dis- 
play of millinery goods in shapes, ribbons, flowers, etc., 
and also of ceiling decorations, paper hangings, curtain 
fixtures, boots, shoes, baby carriages and sowing machines. 
The wagon was fitted with a canopy top. all profusely 
ornamented. 

F. P. Newkirk. Eight exhibits. First, advertising 
team, a nicely painted wagon, and horse with ornamented 
harness, and bells. 

Second, horse rake in operation, drawn by horse. 

Third, hay tedder in motion, drawn by horse. 

Fourth, sulky plow, drawn by pair of horses, rider 
exhibiting method of working levers. 

Fifth, large truck loaded with lawn mowers and 
mowing machines and with a fine large advertising ban- 
ner. 

Sixth, a wagon loaded high with commercial fertilizers, 
and drawn by a pair of horses. 

Seventh, a large truck drawn by four large gray horses 
with blankets lettered with advertising: the truck loaded 
with all sorts of agricultural implements. 

Eighth, the largest wagon in the procession, having a 
platform 35 feet 8 inches long and 1(>4- feet wide, loaded to 
represent the store and workshop, with a large assortment 
of stoves, oil stoves, ranges, wooden ware, pump pump- 
ing water from a tank, and men at benches at work at 
piping and general jobbing, the whole drawn by six horses 
witb lettered blankets. A large quantity of advertising 
matter was thrown out. 

American Express Company's team with Load of mer- 
chandise. 

-James Keene. A roofed wagon, handsomely trimmed 
and loaded with pictures, picture frames, toys, fancy 
goods, etc. representing his variety store. 

J. A. Loomis rode on horseback in front of his three 



28 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

exhibits and carried a large flag and a sign, the sign 
reading, "Headquarters, Bosworth's Block." 

First exhibit, two-horse team representing his Union 
street drug store, the wagon loaded with three cases of 
drawers arranged with drawers outward, a prescription 
case, and above this an advertising sign revolving in the 
wind, and above this still another sign and a large flag. 

Second, fruit department. A covered wagon with 
bunches of bananas hanging; the body was provided with 
sides of woven wire and was filled with oranges and 
lemons. Above all was a large sign. "J. A. Loomis' is 
Headquarters for Fruits," reaching from end to end. 

Third, grocery department. In the front part of the 
wagon was a neat rack filled with canned goods and sur- 
mounted by advertising signs; back of this was a coffee 
mill in operation, grinding Spurr's Revere Java coffee. 
The coffee as fast as ground was put up in envelopes and 
thrown to the spectators. In this way L000 packages were 
distributed. 

Rust. Wilson & Co. Two exhibits. First, wagon 
drawn by four horses: white blankets trimmed with red 
and marked respectively. ••Millinery."' •'Dry Goods.** ••Cloth- 
ing," "Carpets." In this wagon rode all the help employed 
in the store, the ladies being dressed in red. white and 
blue. The four corner posts of the covering were trimmed 
with Japanese fans and surmounted by Japanese parasols. 
On the wagon was a large pyramid of carpets and a huge 
hat to represent the millinery department, while a display 
of fine Turkish rugs hung over the sides. The covering- 
was trimmed with bunting, flags, fans and parasols. 2000 
ornamented fans and show cards were given away. 

Second, truck team and huge load of boxes, hand- 
somely lettered to show the different kinds of goods kept 
by the firm. 

Taintor <t McAlpine. Two-horse team, the horses cov- 
ered with dark blue blankets, ornamented with the firm name 
in gold letters and other gold ornaments. The wagon box 
was covered with dark blue and also Lettered with the firm 
name in gold. The back of the driver's seat was a large 
representation of an open blank book. On the wagon was 
a large upright ease filled with jewelry, silverware and 
fancy goods, provMed with a railing and surmounted by a 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 29 

young maiden. Miss Dora Loomis. dressed in white, carry- 
ing a dark blue banner with the firm initials in gold. The 
hubs of the wheels were covered with gilt representations 
of watches, each about two-thirds of the diameter of a 
wheel. Back of these the wheels were covered with a 
dark blue back-ground and ornamented with a row of 
gilt stars. 

H. D. Brierley & Co. Large wagon, drawn by four 
very heavy and handsome black horses. The wagon was 
covered by a lofty canopy and surrounded by real antique 
Lace curtains, hanging from heavy brass fixtures. The 
load of dry and fancy goods was tastefully arranged. The 
whole was surmounted by advertising signs on cloth. 2000 
ornamental fans were thrown to the bystanders. 

B. P. ( Iwen. Four horse team with platform truck 
20 x 8 feet. On the front, at left of driver, was an old-fash- 
ioned Franklin stove, built in imitation of a fire place; on 
the right was a parlor heating stove of the latest pattern. 
Lengthwise of the truck ran a bench at which workmen 
were engaged at plumbing and making tinware. On a 
wire covering over the bench was a display of plumbing 
materials, brass trimmings, nickel plated, tin, and copper 
ware, the whole trimmed with bunting and flags. 3000 
handbills and 200 packs of dominos, each domino printed 
with an advertisement, were distributed. 

Wm, L. Richmond. Two-horse team with platform 
truck and covering. A harness was hung overhead and 
round the outside was arranged a row of trunks. Inside 
were neatly arranged goods of all kinds kept in his Union 
street harness store, handbags, collars, blankets, whips, 
etc.. etc. Horses decorated by handsome rosettes, and all 
trimmed with the national colors. 

Geo. A. Meier. Representation of a barber's shop, on 
two-horse wagon with platform and ornamented cover, the 
cover supported by barber's signs. A lathered customer 
occupied the chair, about whom H. L. Neu flourished the 
mammoth centennial razor, the while continually calling 
for the "next." 

Geo. L. Manchester. Team carrying steam boiler and 
steam radiator, both fitted n]) with trimmings, such as are 
used in heating rooms by steam: also a display of cast iron 



30 EASTHAMPT0N CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

water mains and valves, and of steam, gas and water 
pipes, fittings, valves, faucets, etc. 

E. R. Bosworth. Very neatly arranged load of lumber. 
First, the foundation of 12 inch wide finishing boards. 16 
feet long, piled about a foot high and surmounted by a 
course of finished fence pickets laid crosswise; then a pile 
about one foot high of matched lumber, and another row 
of pickets. Above this came the frame. Window blinds 
stood at the corners, and a pair of doors were arranged at 
each side like a carpenter's square resting upon the ends, 
with a window sash underneath. The remainder of the 
load was built compactly of shingles, clapboards and lath. 
At the top on each side were signs in bold letters, ''Centen- 
nial, Union Street Lumber Yard, 1785-1885," surmounted 
by flags. The whole was drawn by four horses neatly 
trimmed. 

Charles E. Ferry. Exhibition of stone quarrying and 
stone laying. A pair of heavy horses with lettered blank- 
ets. In front part of the wagon men were drilling and 
showing the methods of rough stone work. In the rear 
more finished work was represented by a horse block of 
large dimensions. [This block has since been planted in 
front of Mr. Ferry's residence, as a memorial of the cen- 
tennial. ] 

Martin Rich. Four-horse team, neatly decorated, and 
loaded to show the old style of arranging brick for burning. 
and the newer way. In the new style of kiln a fire was 
burning. 

Wm. E. Topliff. Two-horse team, with workmen lav- 
ing an old-fashioned fire place of brick. One of the 
workmen wore an apron according to the custom of brick- 
layers in old times. 

Wm, A. Judd. Two-horse team with platform about 
7x15 feet, and canopy of lap dusters and horse coverings, 
with four large flags at the corners and smaller ones at the 
sides. From the back of the covering hung a harness, and 
round the outside 25 Chinese lanterns alternating with 
about as many hand bags. Round the edge of the plat- 
form was arranged a row of trunks and mats. Inside of 
these was a railing about two feet high, draped with red, 
white and blue, with fastenings of the same colors, enclos- 



EA$THAMPT0N CENTENNIAL RECORD. 31 

ing a bench at which the proprietor arid assistant were 
making harness. The platform was surrounded by a 
fringe of bunting, and the horses, a sturdy pair, were 
covered by white blankets with blue border and the bus- 
iness card in red letters. 

E. S. Alvord. Two-horse team; decorated and taste- 
fully arranged load of fine fancy groceries, spices, etc. 

E. B. Judd. Four horses and decorated wagon with 
covered platform, representing a blacksmith's shop with 
horse-shoeing in progress. A forge and drilling machine 
were in operation. The blankets on the horses bore the 
business card of the proprietor. With this interesting 
exhibit rode a band of three pieces, viz. , drum, cello, and 
violin. 

M. J. Loomis. Representation of Geo. Washington, 
riding in a very old meat cart. 

M. J. Loomis, on horseback, preceding his other 
exhibits. 

Bosworth Drum Corps: three drums and fife. 

Four-horse team and load of cages, filled with lambs, 
calves, turkeys, chickens and swine, including several 
small black pigs; above these, a sign, reaching from end to 
end, read, "M. J. Loomis' is Headquarters for Beef. Veal, 
Pork, Lambs, Poultry and Game in their season, 67 Main 
Street." This was surmounted by a stuffed American 
eagle and followed by a pair of oxen. 

Three meat carts, used by Mr. Loomis in his business, 
decorated with flags. 

Team representing the American Express Company 
and United States mail service. Wagon with cover highly 
ornamented, marked "American Express and U. S. Mail."' 

John Strangford. Tin peddler's cart, fitted with a 
platform over all. The dash board was surmounted by an 
ornamented arch. A fine display of silver ware and glass 
could be seen through the doors, which were left ajar. 
Above the cart and below the platform, the words. "The 
Daisy," were worked on each side in large floral letters. 
The rack, back of the cart, was piled to the platform above 
with neat courses of wooden ware. The space above the 
cart and under the platform was filled with I night tin 
ware, also most of the space <>n the platform. < )n the 



32 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

front was a brass tea kettle, supposed to be 100 years old. 
labeled. "1785;" on the other side a kettle of recent make, 
labeled "1885." On each side was a large potted plant 
in full bloom. A railing surrounded the top. All ap- 
propriately trimmed. A blanket on the horse was lettered 
with the initials of the owner. A large stock of colored 
glass ware and other small fancy articles was distributed. 
E. H. Ludden, with a big. white linen frock, driving a 
new and handsomely painted butcher's cart, trimmed with 
bunting and flags. 

D. E. Friel. Tin peddler's cart, trimmed with bunting 
and flags, and hung about with tin-ware and household 
utensils. 

J. E. Clark. Coal delivery team, decorated. 

E. E. Janes. Coal delivery team, drawn by two horses 
and tastefully decorated. 

Oren C. Burt. Coal delivery team, on one side a ban- 
ner inscribed "From Williston Mills Coal Yard. O. C. Burt 
proprietor." On the other a banner inscribed "O. C. Burt, 
Dealer in Fine Coal. See Sample." Horses gaily blank- 
eted; the whole decorated with flags. 

W. C. Ferry. Two exhibits. First, fish peddler's 
wagon, neatly trimmed. 

Second, open wagon trimmed with lobsters and oyster 
shells. Workman dressing fish as he proceeded. 

E. M. Torrey. New wagon with patent duplex gear. 
loaded with spokes, rims, shafts, paints, varnish, trimming 
stock and other materials for wagon-making. 

The pupils of the public schools, to the number of 
about 700, carrying appropriate banners, were gathered on 
the Park near the Mansion House, in charge of their 
teachers and under the direction of Prof. J. H. Willard. 
Three hearty cheers were given to the Governor upon his 
arrival. As soon as the procession reached this point the 
children sang "America" in a grand chorus. At its close. 
eighteen young lady pupils of the High School, dressed in 
while, with dainty red, white and blue caps, entered an 
omnibus and joined the procession, riding immediately 
ahead of E. II. Howland's exhibit in the second division. 
The young Indies were as follows: Alice Alvord. Mattie 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 33 

Austin, Carrie Bly. Carrie Clapp. Hattie Clapp. Louisa 
Clark, Belle Goodenough, Susie Kimball, Bessie Leonard, 
Belle Lyman, Carrie Mayher. Carrie Painter, Carrie 
Parsons, Susie Ranney, Eliza Shaw, Annie Taylor, Jennie 
Thayer, and Minnie Webster. Asaph Wait, the only 
young gentleman in the senior class, carried the class flag, 
and motto, "Doctrina, non Armis." A pennant was car- 
ried with the motto. "Years, not actions tell." 

An interesting feature of the celebration was observed 
on the porch of Mr. L. G. Fales' residence on Center street, 
where, during the morning, Miss Ursula Vinton of South 
Hadley, and Mrs. L. G. Fales, dressed after the fashion of 
old times, took turns at spinning wool by hand. Old- 
fashioned household machinery was shown on several 
lawns along the route of the procession. 

The procession marched, without accident, over the 
route laid down in the Marshal's order. The head of the 
column reached the Town Hall, for the final review, in 
almost exactly two hours from the time of starting, that 
is, at about 12.30 P. M. The Governor and Lieutenant 
Governor and Staff left the procession some time pre- 
viously and repaired to the Town Hall, where the Governor, 
standing at the top of the steps, reviewed the procession as 
it passed. When the carriages reached the Town Hall 
many of the occupants alighted and joined the Governor's 
party. 



EXEECISES IN THE TOWN HALL. 



At the close of the review, the distinguished guests 
were conducted to reserved seats in the Town Hall, which 
was soon crowded, including both the front and rear 
galleries. On the platform a place was found for the 
chorus, more than sixty in number, consising of members 
of the Easthampton Choral Union and others, under the 
direction of Mr. Joseph W. Green, Jr. They were assisted 
by Mrs. Win. G. Bassett, pianist, and by the Easthampton 
Orchestral Club, ten pieces, A. N. Baldwin, leader. 

It was about one o'clock when the exercises were com- 
menced by the choir, singing the Hallelujah Chorus from 
Handel's Messiah. 

Hon. H. G. Knight had prepared a brief address with 
which to open these exercises, but it was omitted owing 
to the lateness of the hour. 



OPENING ADDRESS OF HON. HORATIO G. KNIGHT, 
PRESIDENT OF THE DAY. 



Ladies diid Gentlemen: — My respected associates of the 
Executive Committee have requested me to preside on this 
joyful occasion and give some direction to the exercises of 
the day. This duty is an agreeable one because there is 
not much for me to say or to do. In the Acts and Laws 
passed by the General Court of Massachusetts, begun and 
held at Boston on the twenty-fifth (lay of May, Anno Dom- 
ini. 1785, we find at the sixth chapter "An Act for incorpo- 
rating a certain tract of land lying in the Count \ of 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 35 

Hampshire, being - part of the towns of Northampton and 
Southampton, into a district by the name of Easthampton." 
This Act, a copy of which I hold in my hand, was approved 
by Gov. Bowdoin, June 17th, and is our warrant for cele- 
brating- to-day the one hundredth annniversary of our 
incorporation. While the history of the town extends over 
only one hundred years, it is the outgrowth of a much older 
parent settlement, and Easthampton is proud of her 
mother, Northampton, as well as her sisters, Southampton 
and Westhanipton. whose citizens have come to join in 
these festivities. Already you have witnessed a represen- 
tation, in procession, of the various industries of the town, 
indicating the enterprise and public spirit of our people; 
you will soon hear from eloquent lips the story of our early 
history, and facts both interesting and remarkable con- 
cerning our later history, which contains some useful les- 
sons. I cannot give expression to thoughts that are upper- 
most in my mind without trespassing upon your time and 
entering upon ground that belongs to those who are to 
follow me. Our thoughts naturally turn to those — our 
fathers and brothers — who have left us and passed over to 
the majority, but who I doubt not, are looking down upon 
us with a lively interest in the scenes through which we 
are passing. I do not need to mention names which are 
engraven on our hearts and living in our memories. "The 
memory of the just is blessed." 

We are highly honored to-day by the presence of his 
Excellency the Governor and other distinguished guests 
whose voices we shall hear in another place. 

We are glad to meet on this occasion representatives 
of many families who have moved from our borders, to 
whom fitting words of welcome will be addressed by 
another. I will only express the hope that in the incidents 
of the day and in what they shall see and hear, they will 
find something to stimulate their patriotism and strengthen 
their affection for Easthampton. 

Without detaining you longer from the good things 
that are to come, I will now call your attention to Hie 
tiist thing in the program, which is the Hallelujah ('bonis 
from Handel's Messiah. 

The music on this occasion is under the auspices of the 



36 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

Easthampton Choral Union, Mr Joseph W. Green, Jr.. 
Director. 

When the choir had finished singing, Mr. Knight intro- 
duced the Rev. J. F. Mears. of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, who read Psalms XCIX. and C. 



[Mr. Knight.] Prayer will now he offered by the 
Rev. Mr. Colton, for many years the beloved pastor of 
the First Congregational Church. 



PRAYER BY REV. A. M. COLTOK 



Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, we acknowledge 
Thee as the adorable Author of all being and all good, 
and we render unto Thee our hunjble praises. 

We give Thee thanks for our creation, and preserva- 
tion, and all the blessings of this present life. 

We bless Thee for our goodly heritage; for the land 
Thou gavest unto our fathers, and through them to us, 
for a possession. We bless Thee for the Pilgrim band; 
for bringing them to these shores and planting them 
here; for thy protecting and preserving care over them 
amid the perils and privations of the early settlements 
here; for their enlargement and increase, until as now, 
the little one has become a thousand, and the small one 
;i strong nation. 

We thank Thee for the success vouchsafed our fore- 
fathers in the great struggle to gain for themselves and 
tor their posterity a free and independent nation. We 
have heard witli our ears, God, our fathers have told 
us. what work Thou didst in their days, in the times of 
old. How Thou didst drive out the heathen with thy 
hand, and plantedst them. For they got not the land 
in possession by their own sword, neither did their own 
arm save them; but thy right hand, and thine arm. and 
the lighl of thy countenance, because Thou hadst a favor 
unto them. 

We bless Thee for the founders of our government. 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 37 

for the wisdom given them of Thee to frame the institu- 
tions under which we live. We thank Thee for the 
freedom we enjoy; for the lights of knowledge shining 
round about us; and. best and most of all. for that 
brightest, sweetest, and most glorious light from the 
gospel of thy love and power. 

We give Thee thanks for great deliverances wrought 
for us as a people in times of imminent peril; and 
especially for the patriotism and valor of our soldiers in 
our late war: for their success in putting down the 
insurrection and rebellion, and removing the curse of 
slavery, and thus making us, by surer and happier bonds 
than ever before, a free and united nation, as it is this day. 

We give Thee thanks for this goodly town; for the 
God-fearing ones who came here to find and to found 
for themselves and for us a home, and by whose coming 
the wilderness and the solitary place was made glad: and 
who laid here good foundations of civil order, of intel- 
ligence, of virtue and piety. We bless Thee that Thou 
wast to them a strength and shield when they were but 
a few men in number: yea, very few. and strangers in it; 
for the growth of the town from those small beginnings 
to its present measure and stature; for the men of enter- 
prise and public spirit, devising liberal things for their 
town, to give it increase, and strength, and beauty; for 
the continued life and prosperity of the town unto this 
day; thus affording us the privilege we have, to keep 
here and now, as we do, joyfully, our centennial 
anniversary and commemoration. 

We bless Thee for our advantages, for all good culture 
and refinement; for our churches, our seminary, our 
schools, our Sabbath-schools; for our varied industries; for 
our homes and home-nurture and happiness; for the preva- 
lent order and quiet; for freedom from oppression, and 
poverty and fear of evil. 

But (). Thou bountiful Giver of all good, we cannot 
count our mercies from thy hand. If we would declare 
and speak of them, they are more than can he numbered. 

Our Heavenly Father, we thankfully raise to thine 
honor our memorial to-day, saying. Hitherto hath the Lord 
helped us. 



38 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

And now. because Thou hast been our help, therefore 
in the shadow of thy wings will we rejoice. Continue to 
us thy loving-kindness in all time to come. Command 
deliverances for us. Be Thou our strong habitation where- 
unto we may continually resort. As Thou wast with our 
fathers, so wilt Thou be with us, and with our children. 
and children's children — the faithful God, our loving 
Father, Counselor, Guardian, Guide and Redeemer, keep- 
ing covenant, and remembering mercy unto a thousand 
generations. Let thy gracious favor be upon us ever: upon 
the labor of our hands; upon all our industrial interests and 
pursuits; upon all our possessions and privileges; upon our 
churches, and seminary and schools. 

Let our homes be ever bright and pure and sweet. Let 
our sons be as plants grown up in their youth, and our 
daughters as corner-stones, polished after the similitude of 
a palace. 

Bestow, we beseech Thee, thy favor upon our neigh- 
bors and friends, gladdening us by their presence and 
gratulations to-day. Bless our beloved Commonwealth. 
Bless our Governor and his Council. Bless our Lieut. Gov- 
ernor, and our judges, and members of our General Court. 
Bless our land, and our soldiers who fought for its liberties 
and life. Bless the President of the United States, and all 
others in authority. Grant that all who bear rule, here 
and elsewhere, may keep sound wisdom and discretion. 
And now. Lord, what wait we for ? Our hope is in Thee. 
Deliver us from all our transgressions. Forgive our sins, 
and do for us, now and in all time, exceeding abundantly 
above all that we ask or think; and (), most merciful 
Father, grant, we beseech Thee, that when days, and 
years, and centuries, and time itself shall be no more, we 
all may be found pure and safe in the Heavenly Land, 
through the merit and mediation of thy Son, Jesus Christ, 
our Lord. And unto Thee will we ascribe all power and 
dominion, and glory everlasting. Amen. 



[Mr. Knight.] There arc some present here to-day 
wlni remember the time when a majority of the people of 
Easthampton were Clapps, Clarks, Lymans and Wrights. 
There were also a goodly number by the name of Parsons. 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 39 

It is not so to-day, and never will be so again. Of those 
bearing the name of Parsons some still remain, and you 
will now be addressed by Mr. Lucius E. Parsons, who is a 
farmer, a soldier, a deacon, and a native of Easthampton. 



ADDRESS OF WELCOME. 



Mr. President,— Friends: To address you in the terms 
that etiquette would require, on common public gatherings, 
would seem cold and formal on such an occasion as calls 
us here to-day. I therefore salute all who have gathered 
here to celebrate the centennial birthday of the incorpo- 
ration of Easthampton, by the more intimate and social 
names of Fathers, Mothers, Brothers, Sisters, Kindred, 
Neighbors and Old Acquaintances. And while I feel a 
deep sense of my lack of all, save one, of the essential 
qualifications to perform this most pleasant of duties, 
acceptably to those I represent and to the edification of 
you I address, I do confess to no little pride that my fort- 
une of birth has made me eligible to the honor conferred 
by this appointment. One hundred years ago. our ances- 
tors, moved with a desire for the worship of God, and 
better educational advantages, took the initial steps which 
secured to them and us, this town, in which we take so 
much pride to-day. That hundred years has passed into 
history. What memories are awakened ! What recollec- 
tions fill the soul ! And what could be more fitting than 
that we should gather in this grand reunion of families 
and friends, and revive old associations, and renew old 
acquaintances and reanimate ourselves with the spirit that 
inspired our Fathers. To you who have responded by 
your presence to the call "Come home:" — it is pleasant to 
look into so many familiar faces, also, so, many familiar 
only as they repeat and perpetuate the features of kindred, 
and to grasp the hand, and listen to the words of those 
(truly of us) who have gone out from us. and made for 
themselves homes in other parts of our laud, and in those 
homes have done honor to the home of their birth. But 
who are these whose hands we clasp in love and esteem 
to-day? Shall 1 attempt to classify by title? I need not do 



40 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

that; doubtless you all feel your royalty. We look upon 
you as having gone out to contribute in the sphere for 
which you were best adapted, some larger, some smaller, 
in the building up of the spiritual, intellectual and industrial 
interests of our beloved land. But let us be mindful to-day, 
that to secure joy to each, and contribute to the joy of all, 
there should be the gracious flowing of benevolence that will 
encourage confidence, that shall bring all upon a common 
plane; and as we gather around these altars of sacred 
associations, let us fire anew our hearts with the love and 
friendship of former years. Gladly would we have greet- 
ed more, but were the number less, we should as cheerfully 
have welcomed them. Many who could not be present 
have responded by letter, expressing pleasure in not being 
forgotten, and much regret that they could not mingle 
with us in the pleasure and interest of this occasion. 
These contributions will add a cheer to our hearts, as we 
call to mind the absent ones to-day. Let none of the 
absent who claim this as their birthplace, be forgotten in 
our memories here. Methinks some in mind will go out to 
our western coasts, yes and some even over the broad waste 
of waters with heart-greetings to dear ones who cannot be 
with us to-day. I need not speak to you who hear me, of the 
changes these many years have made; you will witness 
them on every hand. I will leave this subject for a more 
gifted tongue than mine, and to the monuments that will 
speak with an eloquence of their own, many of which will 
pay a high tribute of praise to the benefactors of our 
prosperous town, of whom some have passed on to their 
reward above. And our friends from the sister towns, 
Southampton and Westhampton: — we feel that you have 
peculiar interests in us. You hold dear and cherished 
memories in common with us. We thank you for the 
sympathy and interest expressed by your number present. 
We gladly welcome you to join in and rejoice with us in 
the pleasure of this glad reunion of neighbors and friends. 
And Northampton. "Our Jerusalem," the mother of us 
all, "•Whither the trilres go up," sometimes for redress. 
sometimes for dress parade: — while you come to us to-day 
with the matronly bearing of a full-fledged city, we would 
believe you have also come with maternal congratulations 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 41 

to your youngest daughter, with the feeling that she is 
worthy a mother's pride. We extend to you our cordial 
greeting and a hearty welcome, with a reverence becoming 
a child of honor, and with the assurance of a filial regard 
for your welfare and prosperity, hoping ere you celebrate 
your city centennial, to rejoice with you in the achieve- 
ment of present ambitions in a new Court House, the 
extension of the ''Mass. Central" through your city, and 
a new City Hall that will add another star to your material 
glory. To his Excellency the Governor of this Common- 
wealth and his Honor the Lieutenant Governor and 
members of the Council in attendance: — we feel a special 
honor conferred by your presence as representing the 
majesty of State. We thank you for your interest, and 
welcome you to our festivities and trust the occasion will 
receive the added grace and honor of your words. Com- 
rades of the Grand Army of the Republic: — a fraternal 
greeting to you, and may your presence as our invited 
guests indicate to all that Easthampton desires to share 
the honor and festivities of this celebration with the 
heroes, who, in their country's peril, defended our homes, 
and preserved to us our sacred liberties. But let none 
who by a kind providence have been spared to this hour, 
be forgetful of those whose lives were a sacrifice upon 
our country's altar, but by the eloquence of the cold 
granite shaft, the chiseled tablet, the vacant chair and 
the broken home, be moved to join with the Poet in his 
tribute of homage. 

"The land was holy where they fought, 

And holy where they fell; 
For by their blood our laud was bought. 

The land they loved so well. 
Then glory to that valiant band, 
The honored saviors of the land." 

And oui- invited guests who cannot claim birthrighl 
with us, but who grace this celebration by their presence 
as representing the high honors of Town, County, Legis- 
lature and Congress: — as we follow the ascending scale 
of official honor we feel an added dignitj given this 
occasion, but will presume that, if such there are who 
have chanced to bring along a feeling of superiority, they 



42 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 



will lay it aside and mingle with us in a social freedom. 
But I need not particularize further, for I trust I have 
included all. and. in behalf of the committee of arrange- 
ments, and the citizens of this town, will hasten again 
to welcome each and every one. Yes. to re-echo from 
each year of the past century the voice of welcome, a 
h a ml red times welcome. 

After the Address of Welcome, the choir sang Kellers 
American Hymn. 



[Mr. Knight. J The Orator of the Day is not a native 
of Easthampton. but he captured, or was captured, perhaps 
I should say captivated, by one of Easthampton's fairest 
daughters, and now we claim him as all our own. I have 
the pleasure of introducing to you Judge Wm. G. Bassett. 



THE ORATION. 



Sentiment prompts a practical, busy town to pause and 
celebrate its centennial day in the leafy month of June. 
And forces that have nothing more in them than sentiment 
rule men and communities. 

Patriotism, that defends a country and supports its 
interests, is one. 

Every person has a special fondness for some place; 
there his patriotism begins and thence it radiates. It is 
where he has his home. 

"There is a spot of earth supremely blest. 
A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest." 

Every mind is more occupied in recollection and antic- 
ipation than by present employment. Time, in his flight, 
ushers Easthampton into her second century, and suggests 
her completed century as a subject for our thought. 

This celebration is not chiefly to recount the desirable 
citizens the town has sent forth to build up other places. 
While with all her heart Easthampton welcomes hack her 
children whose interests have seemed to call them away. 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 43 

many of them people of eminence, and is delighted to see 
them and know of their success, she makes a prominent 
feature of what her sons and daughters, by birth and 
adoption, have accomplished here. 

"Season your admiration for a while." 
A brief review of the opportunities, the patriotic use 
of them, and some of the results, may be a spark to kindle 
or re-kindle a sentiment, which, growing, may help to 
further progress. The historical sermon of Rev. Payson 
Williston, preached fifty years after his settlement as the 
first minister, the historical sketch of Rev. Luther Wright, 
the careful history and 4th of July oration, delivered in 
1876, of Rev. Payson Williston Lyman, all published, leave 
little new to call to your attention, and you are to be 
reminded of things you already know. 

In 1654 this place was in a wilderness, almost unbroken 
except by the meadows near the rivers, by grassy glades 
of the forest and by corn patches. Where the lands had 
been burnt over to catch game or plant corn there was a 
growth of high bent grass or thatch. Indians had solely 
possessed the entire, and then did this part of the Connec- 
ticut River Valley. Their wigwams are said to have been 
at Pascommuck and Nashawannuck. at falls, and places 
where large brooks enter into the Manhan. Springfield, 
the only town in Massachusetts west of Lancaster, had 
been settled by the name of Agawam IS years when 24 
persons had liberty of the General Court to make a settle- 
ment at Nonotuck, or Norwottoge. on the Connecticut 
(Conetiquot) River above Springfield as their own inheri- 
tance, according to their divisions by estates, and to erect 
a town there. Their objects were, "furtherance of the 
public weal, by providing corn and raising cattle, not only 
for their own but likewise for the good of others — the 
propagating of the gospel — whereby people may live and 
attend upon God in his holy ordinance without distrac- 
tion." The 25 families from Springfield. Windsor, 
Wethersfield and Hartford, desirous to emigrate, were 
certified to be "many of them of considerable quality for 
estates and fit matter for a church." "The bounds of the 
plantation which the Grande and General Court laid out 
to the planters of Nonotuck"" are described in the reporl 



44 EASTHAMPTCN CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

of its committee. It extended from a rivulet of the little 
meadow called Capawonks. in the southerly part of the 
present town of Hatfield, "to the Great Falls to Springfield- 
ward" (now Holyoke) and westward 9 miles into the woods 
from the river; the meadows and uplands to belong to them 
and such as should come to plant with them, who accord- 
ing to liberty granted by the "courte" had made "choyce" 
thereof for themselves and their successors, not molesting 
the Indians or depriving them of their just rights and 
property without allowance to their satisfaction. Families 
moved up in the wilderness of Nonotuck, and 34 years 
after the landing of the Pilgrims, Northampton, with 
64,000 acres of land, became a town. 

Says Chief Justice Shaw, in a judicial decision. •"The 
theory universally adopted, acted upon, and sanctioned by 
a long course of judicial decisions of the highest authority, 
was, that the Indians found upon this continent had no 
legal title to the soil, as that term was understood at the 
common law and among civilized nations, no fee in the 
land, but only a temporary right of occupancy, for which 
it was perhaps equitable to make them some allowance. 
The fee was considered to be in the sovereign by whose 
subjects it was discovered, and in whose name it was 
taken possession of. Under this rule this part of North 
America was claimed and held by the king of England/' 
In Massachusetts it has recently been held by the highest 
court, that all conveyances from Indians of their aboriginal 
title, without the license or approbation of the General 
Court, are of no validity whatever. Thus, from the crown, 
through colonial charters and the General Court, acting 
by committee, came the title of lands, not as some histo- 
rians tell us from the savages. One reason for forcing 
Roger Williams to fly into the wilderness in winter, was 
that he maintained the sinfulness of the patent by which 
the king had presumed to give away the lands of the 
Indians. The chiefs of the Nonotuck Indians had the 
year before the sett lenient of Northampton was com- 
menced, made their marks to an instrument prepared for 
them, purporting to release or convey to John Pynchon, 
'•father of Springfield" and chairman of the committee, 
any lights the Indians claimed in the land, for ion strings 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 45 

of shell beads, used for money and for belts. 10 coats, some 
small gifts, and the plowing of 10 acres of land on the east 
side of the river. No individual of them claimed to own 
a piece of land as the farmer owns his farm, with a right 
to lease or convey it. or transmit it to his heir. They still 
exercised all the rights they had chosen to enjoy before: to 
hunt, fish, have a place for their wigwams and for the 
squaws to raise corn. 

In 87 years Southampton and 124 years Westhampton 
were carved out of Northampton; and in 131 years the 
Legislature passed an act incorporating a tract of land, 
being part of the towns of Northampton and Southampton, 
with the people therein, into Easthampton. The land was 
bounded largely by following the boundary lines of farms. 
The northerly line was from the Connecticut River, old 
bed. in the common field at Hog's Bladder, across Danks' 
Pond, touching the line between Lovefield and Hatefield 
tiers of lots, across the Westfield road and long division 
to Westhampton line near Loudville and the west branch 
of the Manhan; thence bounded in a south-easterly 
direction down into Southampton till nearly opposite the 
northerly end of Springfield, now Holyoke; thence easterly 
to Springfield line; thence on top of the mountain over 
Tom and Nonotuck to the Connecticut, and on the river 
to the place of beginning. Up to this time the history 
of Northampton and Southampton was their history, and 
these people had interesting local annals of their own. 
There were no village streets, but only through roads and 
lanes or "pent roads"' in the fields, across which gates 
were maintained. There were dwellings in the north- 
easterly part; at Nashawannuck, where John Webb, the 
first white man to live on our soil, one of the eight who 
alone of the twenty-four petitioners moved up the river 
eleven years before, commenced a settlement in 1665; at 
the luniilet of Pascommuck further east; and at Bartlett's 
mill, down Meeting-house Hill, hack of the Mansion House, 
a settlement was commenced niter 1705 by Joseph Bartlett, 
keeper <>l the first public house, who was a bachelor till 
I 735, with whom lived his nephew. Jonathan ( !lapp, a local 
celebrity. Bartlett evidently was in earnest. He made 
provision in his will for the first meeting-house which 



46 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

should be built within half a mile of his house, thirty years 
before there was one. At Bartlett's mill was a saw-mill 
on Saw-mill Brook, and a corn mill on the Manhan, up to 
which shad, salmon, and lampreys came and were caught 
in great abundance. Houses at considerable intervals 
extended as far north as near Julius Pomeroy's and Park 
Hill, westerly near Henry T. Hannum's and the Nevins 
place; and there were houses at Hendrickville. A house 
where Theoren Pomeroy's is, looked down a straight 
opening a mile long cut through the woods by Sergeant 
Ebenezer Corse, now Main Street. Pascommuck and 
Bartlett's Mills, where Northampton maintained schools, 
were the nuclei of Easthampton. The former, settled 
about 1700 by three Janes families, a Jones and a Hutchin- 
son family, was destroyed in L704 by hungry, roving 
Indians, who descended upon it from the mountain before 
light, killed nineteen men, women, and children, and 
captured others, the Indians escaping and killing the 
captain of a pursuing company from Northampton village. 
A maiden. Patience Webb, aroused from sleep, looked out 
of the window of her father's house and was shot dead. 
A defense was attempted at a house encompassed with 
pickets, but they and the house were fired by the use of 
flax. There were memorable escapes that morning. 
Benjamin Janes, after capture, made the bed tick load of 
pork he was compelled to carry an excuse for dropping 
behind, and escaped over the flooded meadows in a boat; 
his wife wounded, scalped, and left on Pomeroy's moun- 
tain, recovered. The wife of John Searle. wounded in the 
head with a tomahawk, scalped and left for dead, survived. 
A silver hair pin is preserved by a descendant as a 
souvenir. She married again and died at ninety-three or 
ninety-six. wearing ever after that Indian experience a 
black handkerchief on her head which was not seen bare; 
blind in her last years, a pious, discreet woman, knew all 
the Bible and was wont to retire to the lot for secret 
prayer. Her son Klisha. a lad, was taken by the Indians 
to Canada, whence he returned a man unable to speak 
English at first, married here and raised a family. 

It was again settled eleven years later. Nathaniel 
Alexander marrying the widow of John Searle who was 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 47 

killed at its destruction, Samuel Janes, Jr., taking his 
father's place. Ebenezer Ferry of Springfield and others 
coming in later. Nathaniel Edwards, returning with 
others to Northampton with ox-team loads of flax from 
School Meadow on the Manhan above Bartlett's mill, or 
from Pomeroy's Meadow, was shot by Indians in ambush 
at the brook near W. H. Miller's. The spot where he fell 
dead and was scalped, at the top of the hill, was marked 
by a pile of stones for fifty years. His gun was found 
in the possession of an Indian shot by Capt. Noah Ashley 
of Westfield. Several houses had been fortified to guard 
against attack. The Indians, by consent of Northampton 
on their petition, had a fort at Fort Plain, which is back 
of the East Street school house, for protecting themselves 
against Indians from abroad, and some among themselves 
who afterwards absconded. What the people suffered 
while the savages lived here, till they left in King Philip's 
war never to return to dwell, and later, in atrocities and 
reasonable apprehension, cannot be briefly told. 

The village of Pascommuck is thus mentioned in the 
writings of Jonathan Edwards, in the narration of 
Surprising Conversions. ••Then began to appeal- a remark- 
able religious concern in a little village belonging to the 
congregation called Pascommuck, where a few families 
were settled at about three miles distance from the main 
biuly of the town. At this place a number of persons 
seemed to be savingly wrought upon." Familes were 
large and new settlers came in. Full enumeration is 
impossible. A few must be named. Joseph Wait and 
David Bartlett came early. Dea. Stephen Wright and 
Benjamin Lyman about 1745 settled where Joel L. Basset t 
and Austin L. Pettis live. This Mr. Lyman was the 
ancestor of all of us, excepting only those who are not 
named Lyman, a large fraction of whom are descended 
from Major Jonathan Clapp, already mentioned. Samuel 
and Eldad Pomeroy, John and Eleazer Hannum settled 
where the descendants of the latter now live. A son of 
Stephen Wright soon crossed over to the plain and built 
where bis descendant. Watson H. Wright, now lives. 
Josiah went to Park Hill. Israel Hendrick ami Benjamin 
Stnmg to Broad Brook. And so four hundred people t<> 



48 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 



1 



start a new town were found here, about sixty-five families 
in Northampton and fifteen in Southampton. Pascommuck 
and Bartlett's illustrated the Pilgrim characteristic to 
make new settlements. The test for a new municipality 
was answered if it could build a church and adequately 
support a minister. There was union of Church and 
State. The town was the parish. An old requirement 
was, that every body politic should be constantly provided 
with a public Protestant teacher of piety, religion, and 
morality. Towns were by statute to vote such sums of 
money as they judged necessary to settle, maintain, and 
support the ministry; for schools, the poor and other 
necessary charges arising within the same town. There 
was a penalty for absence from preaching on Lord's Day. 
Fast or Thanksgiving. Every body as every thing was 
taxed to support public religious worship. Corporations 
argued that they had no souls to save and should not be 
taxed, as the chief design of religious instruction was to 
save souls. But the courts answered that, as far as the 
community was concerned, public religious and moral 
instruction was for the prevention of crimes, not the 
salvation of souls, and a nail factory was in equity and 
good conscience, as well as in law. held liable to assess- 
ment for its due proportion of parish expense. Property 
here being ready to be taxed, and the people anxious to 
support their own preaching, rather than go to North- 
ampton and Southampton ''to meeting," and being ripe 
to rule themselves, the spirit of Northampton, our Alma 
Mater, who was to lose about one eighth of her population, 
was truly maternal. Three years before the Revolution 
Easthampton might go and take £300, "to enable the new 
town to erect a meeting house and settle a minister." 
Southampton, with an ability she has never lacked, 
objected to let her part of the people and lands go, and 
postponed the measure for twelve years. Northampton 
was even more generous when the time of separation 
came, and very handsome in her conduct. 

Easthampton had the felicity of being born on Bunker 
Hill Day, a day on which ten years later her most dis- 
tinguished and most helpful son. Samuel Williston, was 
horn. It is commemorated annually at Williston Seminary 
as Founder's Day. 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 49 

The act incorporated ''the District" of Easthampton. 
By its terms the inhabitants qualified to vote in town 
affairs were to choose "town or district officers." There 
was no difference. The inhabitants might join with 

Northampton in th§ choice of representatives, who might 
be chosen indifferently from the two places, the expense 
thereof to be paid as they should pay from time to time to 
the state tax. To send a representative alone, which by 
that very act the mother town ceased to have a right to 
do. was the only right any town in the state enjoyed 
Easthampton did not have. It became a separate, 
independent, and perpetual body politic and corporate 
by the act passed one hundred years ago to-day, and its 
character as such remains unchanged. The Supreme 
Judicial Court two years later held that, whether a 
municipal corporation is a town does not depend upon 
the name of town in its act of incorporation, but on the 
nature and extent of its powers, privileges, and immunities, 
and on the description of the officers it is by law competent 
to elect. And the judges say that districts are towns, 
with the same officers, but without the right of electing a 
representative. They call attention to the fact that it was 
formerly the usage of the legislature to incorporate the 
inhabitants of particular places not only by the name 
of district with all the incidents of towns except the one 
mentioned, but also by the name of towns with the same 
powers, privileges and immunities, and under the same 
exception. Public attention has been called to an act 
passed twenty-four years later in which the name town is 
used, giving this municipality already existing, not 
creating a new one, the one additional right, she then 
having votes enough, to send a representative all her own 
to the General Court; a right since lost by being districted 
with two other municipalities for that purpose. It is 
suggested that our first century commenced when we 
first had that independent right, is still progressing, 
though the right is lost, and will be completed twenty-four 
years hence; that as to history making, for the purpose 
of celebrating, this town from L785 to L809 did "stand at 
gaze like Joshua's moon in Ajalon." Having been born 
on an historic day it was her second felicity to hold her 
4 



50 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

first meeting for the choice of town officers at the house 
of Capt. Joseph Clapp on the tth of July. The names of 
some of those officers are familiar — Stephen Wright, 
Philip Clark, Eleazer Hannum, Obadiah Clark, Lemuel 
Lyman, Joel Parsons, Benjamin Lyman, Jonathan Clapp, 
David Chapman, Solomon Ferry, Elijah Wright. The 
next meeting, called that day, was held at the meeting 
house frame, then owned by individuals, to adopt it as 
a place for public worship, to arrange to pay for and 
complete it. There was no church organization till the 
next November when one was formed with 72 members 
from the Northampton and Southampton churches. Thus 
the town was built around a meeting house, and largely 
on account of it. It was deemed a matter of importance, 
which should be present at the christening of the other. 
The building was fifty-three feet long and forty-two feet 
wide, without bell or steeple, and stood in the park in 
front of the hotel; the location of the pulpit being marked 
by a beautiful tree. It was finished by degrees, after 
many votes and great effort, the contribution of timber 
being apportioned. Kindly feeling to Southampton was 
shown by passing a vote to finish it "in the same form 
Southampton's house is done." In 1702 joiners were paid 
for finishing it eighty-five pounds, in wheat, rye. Indian 
corn, beef, pork, boards, shingles, etc., "A billet being 
sent to each man of his proportion of the same that he 
might pay accordingly." That year it was voted to paint 
the body white, the roof Spanish brown. Town meetings 
were in the meeting house. The constables warning of 
common and ordinary meetings was by an out-cry on a 
"publick day." The fifteen -pounds raised "for the use of 
schooling" was to be disposed of according to the direction 
of the men. Their poverty was shown in the allowance 
of five shillings for the loss of an ox at the raising of the 
meeting house: and for a wolf's head "the seventh part 
Northampton allowed the last year for three wolf's heads." 
Interest in public affairs is shown by sending a man the 
next year to county convention at Hatfield, at Springfield's 
instance, 4, to use his influence not to have the county 
split." The town stood up for its own rights, and 
appropriated money to support its claim to the correct 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 51 

line between it and West Springfield. The town at first 
hired and then in concurrence with the church "called" 
Rev. Mr. Walworth as minister. He was offered 200 
pounds for "encouragement," seventy-five pounds a year 
for five years, then eighty, and seventy loads of wood 
yearly. He declined the call. Later a Mr. Holt was 
hired to preach. Until the amended bill of rights in L834 
the church voted for the minister and the town concurred, 
the town fixing the salary and providing for his support 
as by law it was bound to do. He was called the pastor 
of the church and the minister of the people. Four years 
after the incorporation Rev. Payson Williston was settled 
as the minister for life. The town offered 180 pounds 
"settlement" in four equal annual payments, unless he 
wished to build, in which case he was to have ninety 
pounds that year, sixty pounds salary the first year, a 
pound to be added yearly till it became seventy, and thirty 
cords of wood for his own consumption. This he thought 
not a competency, and the salary was commenced at 
sixty-five pounds and increased more speedily to seventy 
pounds a year, and the wood increased to thirty-five cords, 
if he needed it. One 3'ear he was voted twenty pounds 
in addition to his salary. Two apprentices were by vote 
excused from paying towards the settlement. Nineteen 
years after his settlement, first having a committee see 
if seventy pounds enabled him to live equally with the 
people, the town added forty dollars and made it per- 
manent. This settlement was most fortunate. Mr. Willis- 
ton, a native of West Haven, Conn., was a learned man. 
and preached orthodox sermons to an orthodox people 
for nearly fifty years. He was a man of power. Settled 
at twenty-six, he had taken the course at Yale, studied 
theology, and been in the War of the Revolution, on 
account of which he received a pension the last years of 
his life. He died in L856 at ninety-two. His resignation 
as minister was accepted when lie was seventy. He was 
followed by Rev. Wm. Bement seventeen years, Rev. 
Rollin S. Stone two years. Rev. A. M. ('niton twenty-seven 
years, when the present minister. Rev. Wm. F. Bacon 
was settled. It is the same mot her church, though 
divorced from the town when there ceased to be union 



52 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

of '"Church and State." The only record evidence of the 
presence of any other sect in town in the early years, is 
that a clause in a warrant for a town meeting concerning 
opening the meeting house to the Baptists, according to 
Oliver Clark's request, was passed over. While yet a 
district in name "a town pound" was built south of the 
meeting house; "in same method highway work was 
done." The town government was a paternal one. Every 
matter relating to money was the subject of discussion 
and decision in open meeting. Selectmen exercised very 
limited discretion. There were three regular meetings 
annually. Some of the votes are entertaining, and show 
how matters were managed. A layman put in a bill for 
one Sabbath's preaching, and was refused payment. A 
man was allowed for three pints of rum for the use of the 
district. A somewhat careful investigation has failed 
to disclose the use made of it. Permission was granted 
to wear hats at a meeting. There were no stoves in the 
meeting house. Mr. B. was voted for boarding the 
minister the same Mr. A. had. Again a committee was 
to hire the minister boarded at the cheapest place, if it 
be a good place. A person was voted seven shillings to 
sweep and take good care of the meeting house for a year. 
At another time it was to be swept once a week for nine 
months, and the other three once a fortnight, opened on 
all public occasions, the snow that drove in overhead 
or any other place cleared out, the road from town road 
and the horse block cleared from snow on Sundays for 
25s. (id. a year. A committee of two was appointed to 
job the washing of the lower floors and windows of the 
meeting house. "Estimating the pews" by a committee 
instructed to make age and valuation the general rule, 
was a constant subject of town vote. The sexton was 
to scat according to age and valuation. If any three could 
agree to sit together the committee was to seat them 
where their age and valuation would "carry them." It 
was solemnly voted to leave it with the last seaters to 
alter the seat of a complaining brother, if they thought 
it necessary. "The intermission season a Sabbath days" 
was fixed at one hour and a half. A committee was 
allowed 6d. for paper used in new -sea ting the meeting 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 53 

house, and a man (id. for use of his ladder in painting it. 
The assessors could fourfold or put under oath those they 
suspected on good grounds of giving a half list. Indi- 
viduals named were received as inhabitants by vote. 
"Warrants were issued to constables to warn persons named 
therein, who had come to town to abide without the 
consent of the district, to depart the limits thereof within 
fifteen days. Committees were appointed to take up 
collections for people in distressed circumstances, which, 
if inadequate, were to be pieced out by the selectmen. 
A man was voted "sumpthing" for carrying a stranger 
to Hatfield, with a committee to report the amount. 
Geese evoked local legislation. They were not to run 
within forty rods of the meeting house on penalty of six 
cents a head for every goose found within that limit, 
and a goose committee of three was appointed. The bass 
viol was not a subject of the most perfect harmony. It 
was voted to introduce it into the meeting house, and that 
it be used in singing, the two middle singings excepted; 
again that it should not be brought into the meeting house 
on the Sabbath. The price to be paid for killing both old 
and young crows was a source of difference of opinion. 
Once it was nine cents per head for young and seventeen 
for old crows. Again it was, a part of the year, twelve 
and a half cents for old, and six and a quarter for young, 
"to be brought in in time, head and all, to the selectmen."' 
The subject once resulted in a vote that each man might 
kill his own crows. Public lands were constantly sold 
through committees. Committees settled disputes between 
people as to land. A committee of three from North- 
ampton, Southampton and Old Hadley was chosen to 
accommodate the inhabitants of Pascommuck with a 
road, their judgment to be abided by. Samuel Williston 
is first mentioned in the town records in isi'.i. when Eldad 
Smith, Thaddeus Clapp and he were a committee to 
regulate Sunday schools: the first one having been held 
only shortly before in the school house situated on the 
north end of the Library park between Main and Park 
Streets. The other large towns in the comity are of 
earlier origin. 

The census of 1790 found To inhabitants. It was the 



54 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

smallest municipality in population in the county. During 
the next decade it increased 129, the next 74, the next 52, 
the next 33, and the next, ending in 1840, the decrease 
was 28. It had heen an agricultural town almost pure 
and simple. Home-made cloth had been "fulled" in a 
part of the old grist mill, and also colored and dressed 
in a mill on Broad Brook, below the present upper group 
of mills, and satinet made in the Shoals tannery building. 
Here was a little town, small in area, as well as popula- 
tion, nestling between the Mt. Tom range and Pomeroy's 
Mountain, with landscapes of marvelous beauty, but with 
so little fertility, so much of its soil uninviting to till, 
that it failed to keep its 745 souls of L 830 and commenced 
L840 with 717. Only one town in the county had less. 
They were intelligent people of the highest character. 
It was a religious community, strictly so. To the little 
church, we are told; they resorted "almost as constantly 
as tiie Sabbath returned." Dr. Williston has left his 
testimony that "It was their delight to meet and together 
to pray and praise, and to think and talk of Heaven." 

"Along the cool, sequestered vale of life, 
They kept the noiseless tenor of their way." 

While agriculture had planted a permanent, moder- 
ately prosperous lown here, other employments were 
needed to stimulate progress. Agriculture needs a market. 
It has been said that the growth of the mechanic arts was 
the life of New England. To furnish a modern, progress- 
ive, model New England town, there is needed a judicious 
combination of agriculture and manufacture: farmers with 
their sterling ••staying quality." and kind, enlightened 
manufacturers conducting business in a manner to live and 
let live. That combination resulted in a community here 
which has also felt the leavening influence of a flourishing 
school of high grade with cultured teachers and their fam- 
ilies as a part of it. Religion did not go out when prosper- 
ity came in. The moral and social virtues and religious 
influences which cemented society here when the descend- 
ants of the Pilgrims protected themselves and each other 
from hostile Indians, and down to the prosperous days, 
have remained the dominant influences. On a recent Sab- 
bath nearly one hundred, mostly young people, joined the 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 55 

two Congregational churches. It has been playfully 
remarked that church going is Easthampton's only dissipa- 
tion. Exacting people and strong pulpits have remained 
in our churches. The change in other respects commenced 
when the 

WATER FALLS OF BROAD BROOK 

were made profitable by Samuel Williston. The story is 
well known how. beginning with Mrs. Williston about L827, 
button making by hand extended till work was put out into 
LOOO families in and between Hatfield and West Springfield, 
Granby and Peru; how Mr. Williston. with the Messrs. 
Hayden, commenced making buttons by machinery at 
Haydenville, where, on the 4th day of July, historic and 
auspicious day again, in 1834, the first button was covered 
by machinery; how Mr. Williston bought and brought the 
business to Easthampton in 184? and '48 and built his but- 
ton factory on Broad Brook. Then Samuel Williston, the 
poor minister's son, disappointed student, kept from the 
ministry by bodily ill. commenced his life work in his 
native town in successful earnest. He. with Mr. Horatio 
G. Knight at first, and they later with Mr. Seth Warner, 
conducted the business. The firm of Williston, Knight & 
Co. became well known and of high standing in New York 
where it sold its own goods, as well as here where it manu- 
factured them till 1865, when the National Button Co.. a 
corporation now existing under the changed name of Wil- 
liston & Knight Co., was formed with Mr. Williston presi- 
dent and Mr. Knight treasurer. In 1848 the making of 
suspender webbing was begun, which grew four years later 
into the Nashawaimuck Manufacturing company, with Mr. 
Williston as president and Edmund H. Sawyer, then a 
rising man, as treasurer, to be followed by Geo. H. New- 
man, its present treasurer, both aided by such experienced 
and able men as Granville H. Leonard, the manufacturing 
agent, and other efficient assistants. This company man- 
ufactured cotton yarn and rubber thread for its webbing, 
till Mr. Williston took the vara business, and the East- 
hampton Rubber Thread Co. was organized, first with Seth 
Warner, later and now with E. T. Sawyer as treasurer, and 
its product the standard of the market. It is pleasant to 
note that the government buys the suspenders for the army 



56 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

of the Nashawannuck Manufacturing Co. , and stipulates in 
the contract that the rubber they contain must be that of 
the Easthampton Rubber Thread Company. These three 
companies have been just objects of town pride. Each has 
been and is the leading establishment of its kind. The 
amount of business each has done is very large. The year 
of the close of the rebellion Easthampton manufacturers 
paid the government $100,000 in revenue taxes. They have 
earned princely sums. The money has been largely ex- 
pended at home, where the managers and most of the 
owners of the stocks have lived. Where manufacturing 
capital is employed in a town to get all the money possible 
for non-resident owners the condition of that town is poor 
indeed. It illustrates Ireland with English landlords. 
Experience here has been the other way. Churches, 
schools, library, public buildings, mansions, cottage homes' 
in the town, and colleges, seminaries and great charities 
away, have arisen from or been fostered by these fine busi- 
ness successes. Liberality commenced as soon as pros- 
perity dawned. 

Dr. William Allen, at the close of the second century 
of the settlement of Northampton in 1854, in his address 
much resorted to for local history, in noticing Easthampton 
as one of Northampton's three children, spoke of her first 
minister. Payson Williston, D. D., a venerable servant of 
God then living at the age of 91, of the founding of a large 
and nourishing academy by the liberality of that minister s 
son at his sole expense, bestowing an equal amount upon 
Amherst College, which he characterized as an almost 
unequaled benefaction to literature and charity. Thus 
early, when money was not plenty or fortunes large, had 
Samuel Williston commenced to distribute sums that 
amounted to handsome fortunes. He never ceased to give, 
and at his death did not disappoint those who might expert 
to share his estate. His intimate business associates. 
Knight, Warner and Sawyer, each had 

"A hand 

Open as day for melting charity." 

These gentlemen and their associates constituted a 
fine circle of business men. and were so spoken of by the 
public press when Mr. Williston died in L874. It has not 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 57 

escaped general attention that it has not always been easy 
in the history of manufacture, to get from capital its 
expected annual return, and leave labor ''prosperous, 
rewarded and contented." The character of the employers 
and the high character of the skilled helpers and laborers 
employed, while contributing naturally to success in 
these mills, have brought about exceptional harmony 
and friendly regard. Williston Mills, a great corporation 
with fine buildings, has not always had the success which 
is hoped for it. In its mills has recently been perfected 
an invention which promises a revolution in the man- 
ufacture of cotton yarn. The Gas Company, while 
lighting our streets, buildings and houses, has not failed 
to make heavy the pockets of its stockholders. The 
Glendale Elastic Fabrics Company, in efficient hands, 
J. W. Green, Jr.. being treasurer, has rendered its greatest 
service to the community, in maintaining a body, mostly 
Germans, of skilled mechanics and good citizens. New 
enterprises have come; the Valley Machine Co., makers 
of steam pumps, managed by John May her; the Glenwood 
Mills, by Webster & King, to manufacture silk. Each, 
with its brick mill and prosperity assured, has come to 
stay and grow and help. Easthampton is widely known 
through 

WILLISTON SEMINARY. 

Here is an institution with all the essential elements of 
a great school — the leading institution of its class: — loca- 
tion, buildings, apparatus, munificent endowment, trust- 
ees, conspicuously successful men as college professors, 
from business and professional life, experienced and able 
instructors, and a fine history. Its tradition is that practi- 
cal, efficient, creditable men, scattered in different 
communities in the land, one in the President's cabinet, 
were in their youth essentially helped to establish the 
manly character and gain the practical wisdom and 
learning that make them the men they are, while they 
were at Williston. The record in the War of the Rebellion 
illustrates this. 9 generals, 10 colonels. 11 majors, 13 chap- 
lains, 27 surgeons. 36 captains, 41 lieutenants, and 23(1 non- 



58 EASTHAMPTCN CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

commissioned officers and privates are known to have 
been of her alumni. Her students have in a marked 
degree discovered the spirit and bearing most becoming 
and helpful. Fashionable society is not believed to be an 
essential aid to instructors in starting youth in their 
career, and Easthampton has it not. Almost everyone 
here is earnest, business-like, and successful. The example 
can not be harmful. This people follows with personal 
interest and genuine pride the gentlemen who go from the 
Seminary with the earnest of success upon them. Incor- 
porated in 1842, the first building of wood had been 
followed by the Middle Hall of brick, when it was burned 
down and replaced by the South Hall of brick. Then came 
the fine Gymnasium, the North Dormitory, and the Astro- 
nomical Observatory. The buildings are more ample and 
complete than those of any other similar school. It has 
always commanded the services of a man of distinction for 
its principal. Luther Wright, a native of the town. Yale 
graduate, of fine personal presence, friend of Mr. Willis- 
ton's youth, made it successful from the first. It was he 
who overcame Mr. Williston's fear that pupils would not 
come to Easthampton, and induced him to locate the school 
here; the only argument in its favor seeming to be accessi- 
bility: it being on the Hampshire and Hampden Canal. 
Josiah Clark seemed made for the place he filled. The 
testimony of his grateful pupils, of those who observed 
his influence, and the effect of his instruction, as also that 
of his neighbors, is. that he was the ideal principal and 
gentleman. His term of fourteen years was followed by 
that of Marshall Benshaw for twelve years. Possessed of 
high scholarship and the faculty of bringing about the 
same result in others, he left the school successful. He 
was approved by the founder, and remembered in his will. 
The fascinating diction and fertility of thought of James 
M. Whiton, distinguished as a brilliant scholar of the 
classics, you cannot forget. Joseph W. Fairbanks came 
from success as a teacher, and left all the inhabitants his 
friends. Without a principal, the school is not without 
ability, experience, and success in its management. The 
standing of the institution among educators was shown at 
its quarter centennial celebration in L867. Its learned and 



EA8THAMPT0JS CENTENNIAL RECORD. 59 

distinguished friends, who took part, included Rev. Dr. 
R. S. Storrs, former teacher; Dr. Wm, S. Tyler, now its 
president; Rev. Dr. N. Adams. Presidents Woolsey and 
Stearns from Yale and Amherst, Prof. Cyrus Northrop, 
Mr. C. H. Sweetser and Gen. Francis A. Walker, then a 
teacher. All was commendation of the school and its 
founder, and there was no occasion for detraction. From 
1840 to 1850 the population nearly doubled, and reached 
1342. People remember when there were only seven 
painted dwellings in town, and when mulleins grew in the 
street. The old unpainted Clapp tavern has been so 
recently removed from the grassy slope below Mrs. Jane 
F. Hannum's that most remember it. My Lord Coke's 
nason for keeping the fences of the burying grounds in 
good repair was. to protect the burials of those whose 
bodies were, or might have been, during their lives the 
temple of the Holy Ghost. This excellent reason did not 
prevent the ruin of the fences, and the removal within 
living memory, of the old ■"church yard." where the Bank 
and Methodist Church stand. Prosperity in manufacturing 
brought with it a market for the farmers and the mer- 
chants. The appearance of thrift became so general, that 
to strangers it seemed that there were no poor people here. 
The present First Church had been built where the North 
Dormitory stands, two years, when Dr. Williston, on 
August 18, 1839, preached the semi-centennial sermon 
already alluded to. It was a fine and costly church for a 
town whose population was about 700, to build, though 
Mr. Williston. whose prosperity had begun, contributed 
liberally. Time has dealt kindly with it. and the people 
who have worshiped in it for nearly half a century have 
been greatly blessed. It gave up 100 members in 1852, and 
they formed the Payson church, and dedicated their new 
church structure that year. In two years it was destroyed 
by fire, and when partially rebuilt, was with the parsonage 
again destroyed, both times uninsured. The present 
church, completed the next year, was changed somewhat 
after the spire fell, crushing into it. in L862. Liberality 
was the builder. Mr. Williston paid for the church struc- 
tures. Mr. Knight the organ, and Mr. Warner the hell in 
each; the parish being asked only to furnish it. The 



60 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

church with a large congregation, besides the students, 
has been prominent and prosperous: its able ministers 
being Rev. Rollin S. Stone 11 years. Dr. Samuel T. Seelye 
13 years. Rev. Alexander R. Merriam 6 years, and since 
last January Rev. C. H. Hamlin. The Methodist society 
built its tasteful church in 1866, and has been a zealous 
agency for good. The Catholic society has had misfortunes 
similar to those of the Payson society. The burning of 
two churches has not discouraged its devoted people or its 
reverend Fathers, as the fine church of the Immaculate 
Conception and parsonage now attest. 

The St. Philip's Episcopal Church has grown strong 
enough to commence a chapel. The mention of all these 
churches, with the fact that they are well sustained, sug- 
gests the need of them in the varied growth of the town. 
The German population and our Scotch and Irish fellow- 
citizens, and others foreign born, who have cast their lot 
here, and their American children, have taken the spirit 
and helped the progress of the community of which they 
are so large a part. They earn and spend and save a large 
sum every year. In speaking of the town they need no 
separate mention. The public spirit and ability shown in 
church building early manifested itself in many ways. 
Miles of concrete sidewalks, built before they were as 
much in fashion as now; the Town Hall with Memorial 
Tower, best hall in Hampshire County, costing more than 
$65,000, and erected by our honored townsman, Edwin R. 
Bosworth; High School and twelve other school buildings, 
Union Chapel, church chapels, water pipes and water sup- 
ply, sewers, gas-lighted streets, excellent stores, hotel 
conducted with so much of enterprise that to people 
accustomed to city comfort it is an acceptable home in 
winter as well ns summer, the work of the Village Improve- 
ment Society, ami general march of improvement. This 
division of the railroad to New Haven was secured by 
Easthampton enterprise against much opposition, Mr. 
Williston. its first president, sinking $35,000. It is com- 
monly called Canal Railroad, a name needless to perpetuate 
indefinitely the memory of thai unsuccessful canal enter- 
prise, the remains of which our soil incorporates with 
itself with apparent reluctance. One of the recent and one 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 61 

of the best accessions is the Public Library. The associa- 
tion owes its being to Edmund H. Sawyer, whose untimely 
death robbed the town of a man whose habit and pleasure 
it was to confer benefits on others and the public. The 
beautiful, appropriate, enduring building is the gift of 
Mrs. Williston. The books, furniture, and other valuable 
property are largely from the Sawyer family, Dr. Seelye, 
the president, and other generous friends and donors. The 
town fosters the institution that pays so richly in return 
by an annual appropriation. A museum inspired by those 
antiquaries. Deacons Johnson and Lyman, has a promising 
start. The seal of Easth.am.pton, with the bold, bare 
western face of Mt. Holyoke, (which recalls the beautiful 
violet tint so often seen at rest at sunset) a mill and 
water wheel, philosophical instruments, with a scroll, and 
the motto, "Industry and learning united with virtue," is 
fittingly suggestive. The town does not say, with ancient 
Pistol. "'Base is the slave that pays." All she owns is paid 
for, and she is out of debt. And yet here, as everywhere, 
compromise of what is desirable must be made with what 
is possible. As from a work of art the mind turns back to 
the artist, so from the contemplation of a beautiful, well 
equipped town, where people are passing life profitably 
and agreeably the mind turns back to the builders. It has 
been said that our venerable fathers adjourned from 
England to America, to found in Massachusetts towns 
republican models for states. A writer, in estimating them 
somewhat by comparison, has placed these founders of 
towns on a godly basis before inspired builders of 
cathedrals in all ages. A glance takes in the English 
settlers, men of "individual dignity and utility," pushing 
out here from the more settled part of the mother town, 
hewing down the forest primeval, erecting their modest 
houses, tilling the soil, and raising flocks and herds. 
These were the days of checkered shirts and homespun 
short breeches; of the petticoat, short linen gowns, check- 
ered aprons, and sunbonnets. and when women were fined 
in court in Hampshire County for wearing silk. The 
women were helpmates, caring for the house, the milk, 
making butter and cheese, drawing, spinning and reeling 
flax, making linsey woolsey and other fabrics, knitting, 



62 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

cutting, making, dyeing the garments, doing the doctoring, 
and bringing up the the children. However well men 
are spoken of it is understood there is a "better half."' 
No exception in Easthampton, long ago, or now ! Public 
burdens were not wanting. This people took part in wars 
with Indians and the French and with the other ountry. 
At least 14 who lived on this soil were engaged in the 
Revolution, of whom four died in the army. They strug- 
gled through the depression following, contributing many 
to quell and only one person to help on Shay's Rebellion. 
They built the church, their own, and established the 
local government "of themselves, by themselves, for 
themselves;'' a constituent unit of a suscessful common- 
wealth. Eighteen of them took part in the war of 1812. 
Some own the homes and fields where toiled grandparents 
whom they remember; excellent types of those who came 
to this land because they valued conscience and duty 
more than comfort. Here strength and beauty, health, 
plenty and peace abound. No farms or homesteads have 
been abandoned in this as in many towns. Besides the 
worthy descendants of the old time occupants others have 
come in, lured by the advantages of the place, all con- 
tributing their full share to church, and schools, and state, 
and all public spirited enterprise. The change, the 
growth, the Rebellion and the sacrifices — made subject of 
special annual memorial— cannot be kept out of memory 
on a day like this. The factories, the mercantile business, 
the monied institutions, the library, an enterprising news- 
paper, are managed, the pulpits supplied, the schools 
taught, the professions adorned, the homes filled by those 
whose enlightened capacity would make them creditable 
people anywhere. Perfection for them is not claimed. 
"They say best men are moulded out of faults.'' Not 
without recognition in the election of officers to high 
stations, she has honored the offices in turn with such men 
as Wilfiston and Sawyer in the state Senate, and Clark, 
the present high sheriff of the county. The county has 
had no higher executive officer for many years than lieu- 
tenant governor of the commonwealth, and within the 
present decade that office has been filled by four successive 
elections of Gov. Knight, native and life-long resident of 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 63 

the town, who had been two terms in the Council and two 
in the Senate. Fortunate as she has been in keeping her 
own for herself, and attracting others, she has yet 
furnished workers and honored citizens for other and 
distant places, and fields of Christian usefulness. Her 
successes have not been all for greed. The most successful 
men have had influence, but been of too large a pattern 
to wish the town to revolve around them. Their power 
has been "that respectable power which men willingly 
grant to the remembrance of a life spent in doing good 
before their eyes." They deserved and received the 
benedictions of gratitude. These men have always spoken 
well of the town; and it is expected that one will speak 
well of a person or a town he is deeply interested in and has 
benefited, and will speak ill of one to whom he has done a 
wrong or is conscious of an unrequited debt. Her great 
glory is in her general not special progress. This is a town 
of equality. Not as a past but a present dwelling place, in 
this fair valley, our village is "a gem of purest ray serene." 
Not alone useful to herself, in self-development, while 
enacting this transformation scene, in the live-and-let-live 
business done, she has been helpful to the neighboring 
towns, the county, state and nation. Her improved agri- 
culture, manufactures, educational facilities, and improved 
living admonish that her agriculture can be yet advanced, 
that the majority and best of her water power in Saw-mill 
Brook and Manhan River, is not yet developed, and so with 
all the rest. She has had, among her neighbors, by reason 
of her exceptional and equable growth and public spirit, 
the standing of a brilliant municipality. What Montesquieu 
says of government is true of our beautiful town: "Like 
all other things in the world; to preserve it, it must be 
loved." If the type of men and women of this closed 
century shall be repeated in the next, with the same local 
pride and purpose, a hundred years from to-day, in this 
memorial hall transmitted to them, not any of you, but 
your posterity and successors may celebrate two centuries 
of progress. May all Easthampton's years abound in - "sun- 
shine days." 



64 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

After the Oration, the Orchestral Club played an 
overture from the Bohemian Girl. 



[Mr. Knight.] You are now invited to listen to a poem 
by Mrs. N. K. Bradford, of Washington, which will be read 
by Mr. A. C. Hand, a teacher in Williston Seminary. 



THE POEM. 



'Tvvas June, the birds sang, and the air was sweet 
On Nonotuck's fair breast. Her feet 
Were dipt in yonder stream, that in its flow 
Through meadows green, laid soft its silver bow. 
The fragrant air trembled with sunny wings. 
The green soil swarmed with merry living things; 
And over all, one hundred years ago, 
Sprung the same arch of blue that spans us now: 
The tired plowman 'neath yon branching tree, 
Ate his coarse meal, mid nature's harmony; 
The while perhaps, a child from neighboring home. 
Some Benjamin from out the fold would come 
To bring some comfort or supply some need, 
And (favoring time,) would for a story plead. 
No fairy tales for those New England youth, 
But those more w 7 elcome tales of simple truth, 
And listening ears would never get their fill. 
Of Concord. Lexington, or Bunker Hill. 
Too near those fathers to those stormy days; 
Too late their feet had trod those rugged ways; 
And later still, the scalping-knife had come, 
And flashing tomahawk had smitten dumb, 
Lips, whose last blessing fragrance still retained, 
Stricken loved hands, whose grasp yet warm remained. 
All! there were giants in those ancient days, 
Men who prepared for us these pleasant ways; 
Strong men who "builded better than they knew," 
Broke the stern soil, and drove the furrow through, 
Planted the blue-eyed flax, and waving maize, 
And walking steadfastly in Wisdom's ways. 
Built with their loyal hands, while hearts were true, 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 65 

A temple for the only King they knew. 
And when the week with sternest labor closed, 
How sweetly at the sunset all reposed; 
Waiting with open book, or song of praise, 
To cross the threshold of the best of daj^s ! 

Not always smiled the elements upon 

The labor of their hands, but one by one, 

The temples which those pious hands had reared, 

'Mid flames' devouring wrath quick disappeared; 

Or angry tempest with its rudest blast, 

To earth their holy place in ruins cast ! 

Oh, man of God, whose ministrations rare, 

Sustained those people in their life of care, 

Whose youth, and prime, and ripened age were given, 

To comfort saints, and sinners point to heaven, 

Green be thy memory — all thy labor done — 

Down all the centuries. — sainted Williston ! 

Oh, worthy son of such a sire ! Thy birth 

To-day we celebrate. Thy course on earth 

Is finished, but thy works do follow thee, 

As we witn gratitude to-day may see. 

Thou didst arouse yon rivulet from sleep, 

And rippling from its bed with joyous leap, 

It gladly hastened at thy call to come. 

And tuned its merry music to the hum 

Of restless spindles, and its unknown strength 

Taught mighty wheels their mission, till at length 

Hampton's fair vale resounded with the tread 

Of those who sought and found their daily bread, 

In new-tried paths of labor; and to-day, 

Not only through our land, but far away 

On foreign shores, thy name alone is proof 

Of perfect fabric, made in perfect truth. 

But, e'en before thy anxious mind had planned 
What motive power could do the work of hand, 
We know that facile fingers, young and fair, 
Had lightened by their skill, thy life of care; 
Had sewed bright hopes on many a tiny mold, 
And woven happy visions, in a fold 
Of cloth, that at the market's eager door, 
Passed for a covered button,— nothing more ! 
And we rejoice to-day, that she who shared 
The toil of all thy early life, was spared 
To see thy triumph, and in mellow age, 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

To close life's well and closely written page, 
And lay her whitened temples calmly down, 
Beside thine own, to wait their promised crown ! 

And left us, also, by thy gen'rous hand, 

Are learning's halls, which down the years shall stand, 

A noble witness to thine honored name, 

More fair than sculptured marble, and thy fame 

Women and men shall speak throughout our land, 

To whom the key was given by thy good hand, 

To open wisdom's treasures, and we bring 

To God for all thy life, thank offering ! 

Full fifty years, sweet Peace with bounteous hand, 

Scattered her blessings o'er this favored land; 

Covered with brooding wing the mellow soil, 

While plenty smiled upon the sons of toil. 

The fathers' swords in scabbards long had slept, 

Their rusty muskets, children's children kept; 

When lo, a war-cloud, small at first 'tis true, 

Yet hiding all the old flag's white and blue, 

(Its emblematic truth and purity), 

Left only blood-red bars for us to see ! 

A war-cloud over Sumpter's sunny head, 

Woke all the memories of the noble dead, 

And sons of sires who once at Concord fought, 

Must well protect the liberties they bought. 

Thousands were called for at a single stroke, 

And through these hills and valleys men awoke 

To the stern conflict, and the April days 

Found them no more in their accustomed ways, 

As with moist eyes they said, (and tried to smile), 

"Farewell, 'tis only for a little while." 

Spring, Summer, Winter, passed, and Spring again 

Heard the sad call,— "Three hundred thousand men," 

And many a home this lovely valley knew. 

Which gave its sacrifice, — its "bov in blue !" 

Alas, some went away who came no more; 

Some sleep on Mississippi's verdant shore. 

Virginia, also, on her blood-stained breast, 

To many others, gave their final rest; 

Some came for loving hands their eyes to close, 

And some, alas, in nameless graves repose ! 

And when the struggle ended, to the arts 

Of peace again, with tender, trustful hearts 

The people turned them, sweet once more to till 

The grateful soil, or in the busy mill 

To guide the spindles, which had multiplied 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

From little loom on Manhan's sunny side. 
To where, in scarcely more than one decade, 
"The National" had swiftly, surely made 
A name, and from his mighty, tireless hand, 
More than a million buttons o'er the land 
He daily tossed, while by his noisy side, 
Fair "Nashawannuck" sat in stately pride, 
Ready to brace her sons for all their need; 
And other sister tried to amply feed 
Her eager throat, and spinning yarns the while, 
Did many a weary hour for both beguile. 
With songs of buoyant hopes in early days, 
Of sad reverses, when in pleasant ways 
A quicksand lay beneath, or dashing wave 
Had buried hopes within a watery grave ! 
Or tales of trial, when 'twas sadly said 
Life hung suspended by a feeble thread; 
But rising from her ruins, fair as May, 
She tells the same old story yet to-day. 

And while fair Nashawannuck proudly sits, 
And dainty hues and textures deftly knits, 
"Glendale" in rustic beauty wings the feet 
Of modern Mercurys at her country seat, 
Her sister, scarcely younger in the town, 
Serenely views her ways without a frown, 
Threads with elastic steps the neighboring hills, 
Wearing upon her bosom dainty frills 
Of her own weaving, while her happy song 
Floats on the merry breeze, the whole day long. 
Nor heeds she, in her charming equipoise, 
Her neighbor of the ' ' VaUey" and his noise ! 

She knows, though lacking grace, his heart is kind, 
And with his plunging pumps no fault will find; 
For in Centennial year, dressed in their best, 
He, and the sisters went with all the rest,— 
Grave National, and Nashawannuck too, 
And showed to all the world what they could do ! 
And when their peaceful homes again they sought, 
Each one a shining medal proudly brought ! 

And where once noisy sow-mill wheezed its way, 
Mt, Tom's young namesake, for awhile at play 
Sat, stringing spools and bobbins, well content, 
With steam sufficient for his nourishment. 

But whether 't was a careless, trusted nurse, 



67 



68 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

Or negligent young parents — vastly worse — 
None ever knew the cause of fate so dire. 
The child met death by falling in the fire ! 

One more of all the happy, useful train, 

"We chronicle, and though men deem her vain 

As clad in Silken robes she coyly smiles 

And Twists her glossy tresses, she beguiles 

All hearts through youth and beauty — all forgive 

Dear, happy " < 7/< nwood" — long, long may she live ! 

Lo what a change a century's dial shows ! 
How great the coming changes, no one knows. 
Where once our fathers used with patient toil, 
The wooden plough to turn the stubborn soil. 
Behold the blade of steel, which deftly cleaves 
The earth, now yielding, nor on entering, leaves, 
Until, inverted quite, in clear cut rows, 
A scene of beauty quick before us grows ! 
And where with curving scythe the mower swept 
In graceful waves the verdant grass, and kept 
Time to his own strong heart-throbs, see to-day 
The horse and rider on their conquering way ! 
And in the father's care to sow the seed. 
They thought but little how they were to feed 
The yielding earth, and in return obtain 
From year to year the same rich crops again: 
But nature ever teaching in her school. 
The noble lesson of the golden rule. 
Soon taught (and docile pupils were our sires) 
That what they ask of her, she too requires. 
And now behold, enriched, the teeming soil, 
Which yields an hundred fold for all man's toil. 

We count to-day these shops, these schools and spires, 

Newspapers, railroads and electric wires. 

Point t<> the Library. Gymnasium, Hall; 

And show the arts and trades, professions all. 

The names of Hampton's sons, who long and well 

Graced legislative halls, we proudly tell. 

We mourn the loss of some now passed away. 

And greet with cheer those with us here to-day. 

And though the feet that once this valley trod. 

Sandalled in living light now walk with God, 
Heroic souls are left and now as then 
Walk forth among the people, noble men ! 

Still sillg the birds as sweetly as the\ sanj; 
One hundred years ago, when music rang 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 69 

Through all the forest trees. No touch of time 
Pales the bright sunshine in his changeless prime ! 
Sparkles the stream on meadow's breast, still clear 
As when without affright, the timid deer 
Came to its silver brim and drank his fill. 
Are old days lost? Lo, all about us still. 
Nature's sweet music — Each succeeding year 
Wakens to life new beauty grand and dear ! 

With rev'rent head we stand to-day, before 
Another century's just opened door. 
Not ours the tongue that at its close shall bring 
In speech or song our grateful offering. 
Science yet holds within her charmed hand 
More than our highest thoughts can understand, 
And mystic carbon pencil shall anoint 
Eyes that see now but dimly, and shall point 
To paths we now but dream of, and fulfill 
More than our highest hopes and God's great will. 
The old. the new are His — the great, the small — 
Whose own broad arms of love encircle all ! 

Ellen Knight Bradford. 



At the close of the Address of Welcome, the audience 
showed their pleasure and satisfaction by a burst of spon- 
taneous and hearty applause. The Oration and the Poem 
were received with equal evidences of approval. 

The exercises in the Town Hall were closed with the 
singing of Dudley Buck's Festival Hymn, by the choir. 



THE COLLATION. 



The exercises in the Town Hall occupied almost two 
hours, or till near three o'clock. Very soon after the close 
the signal for dinner was given by Samuel McKeraghan, 
standing on top of the porch of the Town Hall, and blow- 
ing on the identical 

CONCH SHELL 

with which it was the custom to call the worshipers 
together to the first meeting house in town. The people 
entered the dinner tent and surrendered their tickets at 
two doors on the north side. A feature of interest was 
the old Clapp Tavern sign, which was hung between the 
two doors. This sign was used by Major Jonathan Clap 
when he kept the public house that formerly stood on 
Manhan Street, near the Dresser place. The sign bore the 
device of a panther. As soon as all were seated Mr. 
Knight said: 

Ladies and Gentlemen : — Will you preserve silence 
while the divine blessing is invoked by the Rev. C. H. 
Hamlin. 

PRAYER AT THE TABLES. 



Our Father, who art in Heaven, we give Thee thanks 
I'm' this dav. and for the glorious memories under which we 
can assemble. We ask thy blessing upon us in the enjoy- 
ment of that which has been provided for us, for Christ's 
sake. Amen. 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 71 

The hum of sociahility and merriment and the busy, 
hurrying waiters made a scene of animation not soon to 
be forgotten. The people had by this time good appetites 
and did justice to the substantial collation, which included 
ice cream and lemonade in addition to the contents of the 
boxes already mentioned. Five hundred and five persons 
took dinner as guests of the town, and six hundred and 
ninety-six at their own charges, making one thousand 
two hundred and one in all. It is needless to add that at 
the price asked, the receipts barely met the expenses, leav- 
ing the caterer little or nothing for his labor and trouble. 

A dinner was also served during the day by the ladies 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at their parlors, and 
more than four hundred people took dinner with them. 

No account of the Celebration would be complete 
without mention of the good work done by the Young 
People's Temperance Union, who built an inviting booth, 
trimmed with evergreens and flags, on the lawn between 
the Town Hall and the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
served ice water free to the crowd during the day. 

The following appropriate and breezy lines, from the 
pen of Oliver Wendell Holmes, were nicely painted on a 
strip of canvass and hung over the speaker's stand. 

"Come back to your Mother, ye children, for shame, 
Who have wandered like truants for riches and fame! 
With a smile on her face, and a sprig in her cap, 
She calls you to feast from her bountiful lap." 



AFTER DICKER EXERCISES. 



The sides of the tent were rolled up in token of 
welcome, admitting a full flow of light and of the balmy 
summer air, which seemed to unite with all the other 
circumstances of the day to make it a time of lively 
inspiration and pleasure to the speakers and to all. 

Mr. Knight rose and said : — 

Ladies and Gentlemen:— I am sorry that it becomes 
necessary to inform you, and you will be sorry to hear, 
that the Rev. Mr. Bacon, who was expected to be present 
this afternoon, and to preside in these after-dinner exer- 
cises, is seriously ill, and unable to be present. I con- 
gratulate you, however, that we have present with us 
to-day several distinguished gentlemen who will speak 
to you. We feel highly honored by the presence of the 
Governor of the Commonwealth, a Judge of the Superior 
Court, and other distinguished gentlemen, some of whom 
you have had the pleasure of seeing and hearing before, 
and some of whom are, perhaps, strangers to you. My 
neighbor and friend, Mr. Henry H. Sawyer, has consented 
to assist in these exercises. He will read the various sen- 
timents which have been prepared by the committee on 
toasts, and we shall call upon some gentlemen to respond 
to the same. 



THE TOASTS AND THE SPEECHES. 



The United States of America.— The brightest star in the galaxy of 
nations. May the glory of her light never be dimmed. May the liberty 
loving the world over ever find in her as now the day star of hope. 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 73 

LETTER FROM WM. WHITING, ESQ. 

[Omitted for want of time.] 



Holyoke, Mass., June 16th, 1885. 
My Dear Si)': — 

Your favor inviting me to respond to the toast, '"The 
U. S. America, etc.,"' comes to me only a day or two before 
the celebration, and gives me no time to prepare an 
adequate response to so interesting, and far-reaching a 
subject. If I had the time I would gladly respond in per- 
son, but a few words on paper must do. 

Celebrations such as you propose are useful, for they 
serve to remind us of -the virtues of the fathers, who were 
noted for their devotion to religion, to education, to 
economy, and to enterprise, and these characteristics are 
the crowning glory of a man or of a' nation. So strong 
was their character, and so enterprising, that they have 
had a great influence in molding the institutions of the 
most important sections of the West, and the power of a 
nation is overwhelming when industry, and education, 
and religion are the qualifications of her citizens most 
highly prized. If our educational institutions are main- 
tained at the highest standard of excellence, and the 
teachings of the fathers of the Republic are observed, we 
may look with confidence to attaining a higher position 
than any nation of which a record exists, and progress in 
the future will be even greater than it has been in the past. 

That your enterprising and flourishing town may 
partake of the prosperity which is sure to come in the 
great future is the wish of 

Yours Sincerely, 

Wm. Whiting. 
To Henry H. Sawyer, Esq., Sec'y, 
Easthampton, Mass. 



Our Commonwealth. — As in the past, so in the future, may her iiulus 
trial, educational, social and religious influence remain a sovereign powei 

throughout the sisterhood of states. 



[Mr. Knight.] Massachusetts has been justly proud 



74 EASTHAMPTGN CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

of her long line of able governors. In all the history of 
the commonwealth we have never had one who enjoyed 
to a greater degree the respect and confidence of his 
fellow citizens, than our present chief magistrate. I have 
the pleasure and the honor of introducing to you his 
Excellency. George D. Robinson. 



ADDRESS OF HIS EXCELLENCY. GEORGE D. ROBIN- 
SON, GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



Mr. President, and Ladies and Gentlemen: — The 
Commonwealth brings in my presence to-day a most 
cordial and abundant greeting to the town of East- 
hampton. The whole state is but the combination of 
the towns and cities within her borders, and they of the 
people dwelling in them. There would be and could be 
no Massachusetts of which we should have the right to 
have any pride, if it were not in the good order and the 
intelligence, in the loyalty, in the true manhood and 
womanhood of the people. 

You know, ladies and gentlemen, that when perchance 
you fall into the company of one who is quite advanced 
in years, nothing that you can say to him will so much 
delight his heart, as to assure him that he looks at least 
twenty years younger than he really is. [Laughter. J His 
step is lighter; it is firmer, and longer by several inches 
afterwards, and he is quite a young man again, as frisky 
as the colt that prances over the hills. You people of 
Easthampton may think that it is my duty to tell you 
to-day that I suspect that you are not really so old by 
*twenty-four years as you claim you are. [Laughter.] 

*It will be observed (See page 1.) that Easthampton was incorporated 
in 1785 as a "district." From this circumstance a question rose whether 
the one-hundredth birthday as a town docs not come at a later date. To 
test this question, and it' possible prevent the use of public funds for the 
celebration, a petition signed by fourteen tax-payers was presented at the 
April term of the Supreme Judicial Court, Judge Charles Allen presiding, 
averring that Easthampton was incorporated a town on the 16th daj of 
June, 1809 (the date when Easthampton was first admitted to the privilege 
of sending independently a representative to the General Court) and that 
the centennial anniversary of said event will he on the 16th day of June. 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 75 

Possibly you did not begin until 1809, and you think you 
did in L785. [Renewed laughter.] Now what are you 
here for to-day? Why didn't you wait twenty-four years? 
For my own part. I am delighted that you did not; because 
with the mutations of politics, and the aspirations of our 
people all around, there is certainly great danger that 
the present chief magistrate would not be able to be 
here then. [Laughter.] 

As it has been my privilege to-day to ride along your 
pleasant streets, finding thrift, and convenience, and 
comfort, and happiness on all sides; to look down the 
ranks of the people as they came in from the towns all 
about the county, aye, all over the land, it may be; seeing 
there a familiar face, here a well-known look, there an 
intimate friend of times past, I fell to thinking whether, 
after all, the announcement that I read in the morning 
paper, that the governor of Massachusetts was to be 
here to-day, was not a mistake. I looked to see if I 
could see him anywhere, but I have not put my eye on 
him. [At this point a person said, '"There he stands, 
the man who signed the Metropolitan Police Bill."] I 
have always found that in some enterprises a partnership 
is a good thing. [Laughter and applause.] Take my 
friend in. He and I together can run this speech to a 
great success. [Laughter.] All we ever want in any 
dish is a little spice. It makes it go better. If you have 
any to spare, and I seem a little dull, toss some of yours 
in. The speech will be all the more sprightly. [Applause 
and merriment.] To resume, as the clergymen say. 
[Laughter.] The feeling was one rather of a person 
than of an official, of one acquainted with the persons, 

1909, and praying that the selectmen and others might lie enjoined from 
incurring expense in any way to the town for the celebration. Lawyers 
David Hill. J. A. Wainwright and A. J. Fargo were the counsel for the 
petitioners and Judge Win. (i. Bassett for the selectmen, town treasurer, 
and chairman of the centennial executive committee, who were made 
respondents. A hearing was had April 21st. Seven days later the petition 
was "dismissed with costs.** The counsel for the petitioners appealed to 
the Full Bench of the Supreme Judicial Court, who will hold their next 
session for Franklin ami Hampshire counties at Greenfield. Sept. 1-lth. 
See also reference to the subject on pages 34, 35 and 49. 



76 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

and with scenes that were familiar. And yet, Mr. 
President, the sentiment that has been read in my presence 
here, now awakens me to a sense of my responsibility, 
brings me to the consciousness that I am in some way 
to speak for Massachusetts. Now, no man, whoever he 
may be, can utter her voice. She has always spoken 
for herself. She is most eloquent in her own acts and 
history. She has an abundance of speech in the wealth, 
in the manhood, in the integrity of her people, in their 
development, in their fidelity, and in their character. 
It is too much to ask any one to declare the sentiments 
of our good and ancient commonwealth. 

We celebrate to-day anniversaries of several notable 
events. In yonder city, the metropolis of the state, in 
that part formerly a city by itself, is celebrated an 
anniversary associated with the early struggle for the 
independence of this country. You meet upon the same 
day here. You bring to recollection the act of the men 
in 1785 who caused the governor of the commonwealth 
at that time to sign his approval to the bill which brought 
into existence the town of Easthampton. You also step 
forward in your imagination and recollect ten years from 
that time, and you come to the birthday of a man who 
was identified most closely with the development of this 
community, and who stamped his character and placed 
his influence here, so that, not only on the people of his 
generation, but everywhere, even to the limits of the 
world, the good effect was felt. Rarely does a town have 
the opportunity on the anniversary of its birthday to 
bring together so many precious and salutary associations. 
Yesterday I took into my hand the old charter of this 
town, signed by Governor James Bowdoin one hundred 
years ago this day. To be exact in the matter of history, 
you should bear in mind that it was not the act of the 
people of Easthampton that was transacted upon that 
17th day of June, L785, but the approval of the act by 
the governor of the commonwealth. What interest 
attaches to such a document as that to which I have 
alluded ! written in fair round hand, in yet clear and 
legible letters throughout upon the sheet of parchment, 
signed by the speaker of the House then, and the president 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 77 

of the Senate, and approved by the governor of the 
commonwealth. What man of those could ever for one 
moment have anticipated what was to flow from those acts? 
There is more significance in the connection of Governor 
Bowdoin with the development of this town than may 
be at first imagined. You know very well, if you are 
familiar with the accounts of his life, that he was a 
gentleman of high and liberal education, that he was 
loyal and liberty loving, and that he was devoted, 
according to his highest instincts, to the safety of the 
commonwealth and to the advancement of the United 
States. You will recall the fact, in addition, that during 
his administration, he called in the strongest manner 
the attention of the Legislature and the people to the 
dependence of our countrymen upon foreign products, 
impressing upon them that in order to secure their 
independence, and maintain their stability, they should 
at once establish home industries. And he and the 
lieutenant governor then, and a large portion of the 
Senate and of the Council signed a solemn agreement 
that they would wear nothing but homespun articles. 
He argued that it would surely bring up the development 
of the commonwealth, if the people, who were giving 
their attention solely to agriculture, could find employ- 
ment in some of the other pursuits. He advocated the 
establishment of manufactories in Massachusetts; that 
alongside of the farm should be the mill and the shop; 
and that by that diversity of employment, by that variety 
of interest, a great development among the people, and 
the advancement of the state would take place. If you 
will examine the history of that time, you will find how 
assiduous he was in impressing, in enforcing that idea. 
He approved the bill for the establishment of this town. 
This community, then of four hundred and fifty-seven 
persons, as has been said by the Orator of the day. only 
a little fraction even of the then small population of 
.Massachusetts, was devoted entirely to the business of 
farming. So it continued down into the decade that 
followed. Then there comes into being the man who 
afterwards brought here to this place the employment 
that the governor of that time urged should be for the 



78 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

advantage of the whole people. Moreover, institutions 
in behalf of religion were not only patronized here, but 
received the attention, care and support of the officials 
of the commonwealth. Educational institutions were 
carefully supported. And you have here in the develop- 
ment of this town worked out those leading principles 
and thoughts, those purposes to which Governor James 
Bowdoin seemed to be most actively devoted, You have 
given attention here to the establishment of the church, 
to the maintenance of its organization, and not only to 
keep up its organization, but to keep up its attendance, 
which is better still. You have provided not only for 
the instruction of all within the borders of the town, 
but for whomsoever will come. And there has sprung 
up here a system of manufacturing, an application of 
manufacturing industry and pursuit, that has challenged 
the admiration even of the busy people of Massachusetts. 
To-day you come forward with, instead of four hundred 
and fifty-seven people in these borders, forty -five hundred. 
And is it the fact, as some complaining men sometimes 
say, that here and now, to-day, the people are less free 
than they were when they tilled the soil only, or when 
they numbered the scanty hundreds? No. With all the 
advantages that have multiplied on every hand, and 
they are almost beyond number and appreciation, with 
the great advance made from 1785 to 1885, one stands 
challenged to produce anything in the world elsewhere 
that shall surpass the development made here. And yet, 
there is not a citizen of Easthampton, no matter what 
his standing may be, poor or rich, high or low, as people 
call it, that has not his liberty as safe in this year of 
1885, aye, and more so than in 1785. There isn't any 
occasion for gloom or despondency. The sun has not 
yet set. There is a bright look ahead, not only for the 
town, but for the county and the state. We are taking 
new elements into the population, moulding them over, 
assimilating them, working them into an intelligent and 
loyal free citizenship, and no one need fear that the 
strength of American citizenship and institutions is to 
be broken. The page of history over which we have 
lingered to-day may be turned down as a portion of the 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 79 

record of the past; but history we make, every moment; 
and what shall be written in the future is largely for 
the people of the present to say, who as fellow citizens 
have been pleased to attend here to-day, and to con- 
template so much that gives real delight and encourage- 
ment. If the men and women who have lived in the 
past hundred years had been faithless to their duty; 
if the steady and sober people whose very acts have 
for the time being provoked in us a smile, had, after all, 
been more lax in the observance of the principles that 
make for good order, and peace, and sobriety; if, after 
all, they had been less appreciative of the rights of 
humanity that every man enjoys with his fellows, would 
we have had to-day so goodly a heritage? I tell you, no. 
Nor did the virtue all depart at the death of those men, 
nor did patriotism cease to exist when they died. Men 
now live who gave their all that the country might live. 
Men now are before us who have our honor and our 
veneration for their sacrifice and loyalty, as fully as 
the men in the time of the Revolution. What I see in 
the present time, what I look forward to in the future, 
is the continued fidelity of the people to the high prin- 
ciples that underlie the safety of the government of the 
commonwealth, and of the whole country. This day's 
sun will soon set, but the exercises of the day will impress 
themselves upon every person who has been present; 
and not only upon these few hundreds that sit here, 
but everywhere, all over the land, persons are at this 
moment thinking, "How goes it in Easthampton to-day?" 
In the eyes of many of you I detect now the expression 
of kindly sympathy, and affection, and love for those 
who were here, and are not now with us. The salutary 
effect of such associations can never be over-estimated. 
It will improve the measure of joy that some of you 
have felt as you have come upon this soil to-day, after the 
lapse of many years, to reach out your hand in cordial 
greeting to some friend that you have not seen for many 
years. You, father or mother, that have thrown open 
wide the door to-day, to let the boy or girl born under 
your roof tree come once more and sit at your table. 
You all have warm and open hearts for those you love. 



80 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

We all love those that are devoted to the same things 
that we are, and we are benefited by the indulgence 
of that affection. Yes, maintain the church, keep alive 
the school, reverence the flag that is the symbol of our 
liberty, but gather in those blessings which are so closely 
associated with the associations of home. Next to the 
Church I put the Christian home. And you show me the 
man or woman that stands faithfully by that, and I will 
show you the person who has a firm regard for what is 
high, and true, and noble, and honorable, and who is not 
ashamed to confess his manhood and to declare his 
presence anywhere. 

You and I will not be here a hundred years hence 
to consider the record of the next century. But others 
will come, a multitude manifold. And they will look 
back to to-day, examine the record of this hour, compare 
what the past has brought with what they have, our 
future having ripened into their past, and put their verdict 
upon the fidelity of the people of 1885. 

Ladies and gentlemen, I detain you no longer but 
to bear to you my most hearty testimonial of gratitude 
for your cordial attention, to express my appreciation 
of the success that has been accomplished here to-day, 
and to say that he who appreciates the welfare of 
Massachusetts, or in any degree professes to stand for 
her, must always have the most intense satisfaction at 
gatherings of the people in orderly, in inspiring, in 
ennobling purpose, such as has been visible here to-day. 



Our County. — Renowned for its rural beauty, the thrift of its towns 
ami, villages, the stability and honesty of its inhabitants. May the legacy 
of the fathers, enlarged and ennobled, be the inheritance of the children. 



[Mi-. Knight,] Ladies and Gentlemen: — It is my pleas- 
ure to introduce to you a gentleman who for a term of 
eighteen years has served the county of Hampshire with 
ability and fidelity and to the satisfaction of all its inhabi- 
tants. Colonel E. A. Edwards of Southampton. 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 81 

ADDRESS OF COL. E. A. EDWARDS. 



Mr. President. Ladies and Gentlemen: — What shall he 
say who comes after the king ? The gentleman who has 
preceded me, our most excellent Governor, one whom we 
all respect, represents a large state, while I, being called 
upon second for a speech, represent but a very small part 
of that state. I am called upon to respond to the senti- 
ment which you have just heard, our county, the county 
of Hampshire. 

First I shall speak of the county of Hampshire as it 
was. In 1662 the county of Hampshire comprised what is 
now the four western counties of the state. In ninety- 
nine years thereafter, or in 1761, our county was divided 
by a line running north and south, the western portion 
taking the name of Berkshire. In 1811 our county was 
again divided by a line running nearly east and west, the 
northern portion taking the name of the county of Frank- 
lin. In the year following, that is, in 1812, the county was 
again divided, the southern portion being set off, and 
named the county of Hampden. Thus, you see, we whol 
are here to-day retain the name of Hampshire, the origina 
name of the large county, which at present altogether 
comprises more than a hundred towns and cities. 

The county of Hampshire as it is to-day is a small 
county in comparison with many of its rich neighbors. 
The county of Hampshire has within its borders a fertile 
soil. It is noted for its mountains upon the east of us, and 
for the Pomeroy Mountain upon the west, which is coming 
into prominence as a beautiful place from which to view 
the landscape o'er. We have the largest river in the state, 
passing through it and cutting it in two nearly equal parts. 
We have an abundance of crops in kinds without 
number. But best of all, and greater than all, we have 
the men and the women that are equal to. if they do not 
surpass, their fathers who have gone before them. 

Southampton, my native town, celebrated its centen- 
nial forty-four years ago, a hundred years after it was set 
off as the first precinct of Northampton. Easthampton 
joined with us at that time in celebrating that great event, 
great to us, as this is great to you. Easthampton was 

6 



82 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

formed a hundred years ago to-day. The act passed the 
Legislature, as our Governor has told us, and which history 
tells us. One hundred years ago the northern line of 
Southampton was not far from where we now are. The 
line was just north of the old meeting house which used 
to stand out here on the park, as I am told. So, you see 
that Northampton alone cannot claim the motherhood, for 
a large part of Easthampton was for more than half a 
century, a part of Southampton. Southampton is entitled 
to some credit in that direction. The Orator of the day 
told us that Southampton was loath to part with a portion 
of her territory, but the State, the Legislature and the 
Governor were greater than Southampton, and they took 
it from us. 

I said a minute ago that the people were greater than 
all the other surroundings, our beautiful land, our rivers 
and valleys. Hampshire County has educated more men 
in proportion to her inhabitants, perhaps, than any other 
county in the state. Our ministers have gone abroad, and 
followed the injunction, "Go ye into all the world and 
preach the gospel to every creature." Our students are in 
our high schools. We have the lawyers; we have had 
governors that originated in Hampshire county. We have 
members of congress of both houses that were born and 
raised in Hampshire County. Easthampton to-day is 
entitled to a great deal of credit. Easthampton is the 
smallest in territory of our twenty-two towns and one city; 
little, but smart, as is evidenced by her numerous factories; 
and all these have been built since my remembrance. Well 
it might be called smart, when Easthampton numbered 
only seven hundred and thirty inhabitants forty-five years 
ago, while Southampton, one of the mother towns, num- 
bered at that time thirteen hundred. So that you see we 
claim the credit in part of your success to-day. That is, 
we of Southampton are represented here largely, to-day, 
as relatives of your own citizens. I am obliged to you for 
listening to me so long. [ Applause. ] 



Our Mother Town, — Still honored and respected, although having 
exchanged her usual walk and conversation for that of a metropolis. 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 83 

[Mr. Knight.] Ladies and Gentlemen: — It gives us 
very great pleasure to see here to-day so many persons 
from the Mother Town. Not only have we present with 
us to-day the mayor and aldermen of the city of North- 
ampton, but we are also glad to welcome many other cit- 
izens of the infant city. I will call upon his Honor, 
Mayor Cook, to respond to the sentiment that has just 
been read. 



ADDRESS OF MAYOR B. E. C()( )K, JR. 



Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen: — Represent- 
ing Northampton, the mother of all the Hamptons, I am 
most happy to be with you to-day, and to extend our heartiest 
congratulations upon the success of your centennial cele- 
bration. It has been an occasion worthy of the liberal and 
public-spirited people of Easthampton. 

As it often happens that the youngest is a favorite in 
the family, so it is that Northampton has always been 
proud, and is prouder to-day than ever, of her youngest, 
her handsome daughter, Easthampton. Although North- 
ampton has a history of nearly two hundred and fifty 
years, yet we must remember that many of the men who 
helped make that history were residents of that portion of 
the old town now comprised in the territory of East. West 
and Southampton, and as we read the names inscribed on the 
tablets in our own Memorial Hall, of the old heroes in the 
colonial and revolutionary wars, we find a good proportion 
of them were residents of the same territory. 

The change from town to city government in North- 
ampton was looked upon with misgivings by many of our 
citizens, and even now they regret giving up the old-fash- 
ioned town meeting with all its attractions. But there is 
the consolation of knowing that if the longing to witness 
the old scenes becomes too strong to be resisted, we can 
visit our neighbor, Easthampton, at least once a year, and 
see the original article in undiminished vigor. 

It is a fact to be proud of that Easthampton lias so 
many public improvements and no funded debt. We 
have some of the improvements in Northampton, but in 
common with all the other cities of this commonwealth. 



84 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

we answer the boy's description of his father's new house, 
ending up with the statement that there was a cupola on the 
top and a mortgage on top *o that. The tendency of debt, 
public and private, is to destroy independence. I believe the 
advice of Robert Burns about money is the best we have: 
"To get money, not to hide it in a hedge, nor for a train 
attendant, but for the glorious privilege of being independ- 
ent." 

As we survey the hundreds of prosperous homes, 
farms, and places of business in Easthampton. this queen 
of New England towns, we know the advice of Robert 
Burns has been followed here. With its beautiful situa- 
tion, charming scenery, pure air and water, and intelligent 
people, if one cannot find comfort and happiness here. I 
know not where on earth to look for it. 



It was the intention of the chairman during the exer- 
cises at the tent to have called upon a member of the 
Board of Selectmen to respond for the Town of Easthamp- 
ton. Our much respected citizen, Edwin R. Bosworth. 
under whose plan and superintendence nearly one half 
of all the factories, business houses and dwellings of the 
village have been erected, when apprised of his selection 
for the occasion, modestly declined to fill the appointment 
unless he might read the response. The records of the 
day would hardly be complete without Mr. Bosworth's 
tribute to his native town, omitted from rehearsal on 
Centennial Day for want of time. 



ADDRESS OF E. R. BOSWORTH. ESQ. 



An officer of the town some seven years, associated 
with officers more efficient, always realizing our obligation, 
with careful watch we have guarded its interests, fought 
its battles and cared for its weal. Myself under a painful 
realization of inefficiency, and a grateful appreciation of 
the forbearance of my fellow townsmen, accepting in then- 
good natured indulgence w T ork so imperfectly done. But 
on no occasion in my official life have I felt so keenlv my 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 85 

own imworthiness as here to-day, under orders as Chair- 
man of the Selectmen, to answer for the Town of East- 
hampton, the dear old town whose one-hundredth year of 
life we now celebrate. 

We look around and see the fields burdened with 
richest yield, the meadows heavy with the wealth of cereal 
production, the streams that wind their graceful way to 
the long river, all guarded by the beautiful circle of moun- 
tains surrounding the western view, giving us in its 
varied light and shade, — indebted as it is to the rich valley 
at its feet, — a picture that no art could rival or pen de- 
scribe. A rich possession ! A princely inheritance ! No 
tribute is demanded for the view, save in the raising of 
admiring eyes we all pay reverential tribute to the good 
Father in Heaven for such rich bestowal. 

More attractive yet, is the eastern picture, with its 
varied coloring, precipitous frontage, and bold and lofty 
presence. The view stirs up our pride in the beauties and 
grandeur of scenes our mother Nature has so lavishly 
showered upon us. Towering old Mount Tom ! — Frowning 
only on evil deeds, it shines approval on us to-day. 

At such a, time as this, I cannot forbear offering a 
tribute of affection to our honored dead, that are so closely 
allied with all our public and private interests, Hon. 
Samuel Williston and Hon. Edmund H. Sawyer. The 
former, possessed of great wealth, made the town 
richer and happier by his beneficence. The latter, with 
heart o'erflowing with love for his town and townspeople, 
endeared himself to all with such affection as silence alone 
can express. Death is likened unto a pebble thrown into 
the sea, — a ripple only, and the waters subside; we cannot 
accept this simile, for our tears are yet fresh. These 
friends who have passed away will live and live on in our 
affections in such full measure as not to admit of possible 
change. 

Our industries, too, must have fitting place in this 
memorial. Our factories representing spindle, shuttle and 
loom, producing fabrics of the most delicate nature, 
imitating with their hum and buzz the bee, whose busy 
life they typify. The ponderous machinery that molds 
with its gigantic power the most unrelenting substance 



86 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

and forms it into elastic and yielding manufacture, re- 
minds us of another important factor which contributes its 
full share to the town's prosperity. The click, click, click, 
of machinery earliest heard among us. cunningly devised, 
and made perfect by careful study and application, for 
many years furnishing to the world a product indispen- 
sable. — the pioneer of the industries of Easthampton and 
the key to its prosperity. We do reverence to it as being 
the enterprise that laid the foundation of our success as a 
business community, and not less the establishment of an 
educational institution of which we are justly proud. The 
mechanic arts, too, are represented in no mean degree. 
We hear the sound of the trip-hammer that fashions the 
crude iron into wieldy forms, and with the assistance of 
finest machinery turns unshapely bars, as if by magic, into 
pumps and engines. 

Williston Seminary, — worthy in eulogy the pen of an 
Everett or a Curtis, I dare undertake only its caption >and 
will leave its story to more fitting hands to render to it 
just praise and place it with the proudest educational 
institutions of the land, where it deserves to be. 

I could with propriety mention in detail other institu- 
tions and industries, such as our banking facilities, our 
public library, our farmers, merchants, tradesmen. — 
craftsmen of varied mechanical skill, — and many other 
interests, that would be appropriate, did time allow, but 1 
have already taken more than my share. 

So let us bid God speed to the welfare of the town 
whoso day we celebrate, praying that it may grow in 
grace and honor, and that its prosperity may ever be 
assured. May its next centennial be even brighter than 
the present. 

We who are here to-day will be roaming over other 
fields then. God grant they may be elysian. 



Th, Judiciary. — Like their patron deity, blind <>r eye and ilinty of 
heart, a terror to evil doers, the confidence of the upright. 



[Mr. Knight. | 1 have the honor of introducing to 
you Judge J. M. Barker of the Superior Court. 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 87 

ADDRESS OF JUDGE J. M. BARKER. 



Mr. President, and Ladies and Gentlemen: — I suppose 
if the second part of the toast read be true, that I must 
have been selected to address you at this time because, 
contrary to the practice and almost universal custom of 
judges, if I am not blind of eye, I am certainty flinty 
of heart. Yes, the ancients personified Justice as not 
blind, but blind-folded. She could see, but that she might 
do justly and rightly, she forbore the exercise of that 
privilege of sight, and blinded her eyes, that she might 
not be influenced by any consideration which ought not 
to influence her. She held in her hands the scales of 
justice evenly balanced. She held also within reach the 
sword that executed her decrees. I believe, Mr. President, 
that in this commonwealth, whoever has been called upon 
during all the time that it has been a commonwealth, 
to respond for the judiciary of Massachusetts upon such 
an occasion as this, could do it proudly; for he could do 
it because he felt and knew that the people of the common- 
wealth had always reposed, and felt that they could 
safely repose confidence in their judiciary. It is some- 
thing which one who was brought up. as I was. in a 
town of Massachusetts, accustomed in boyhood, when 
attending school, to watch the assemblages of its citizens, 
and study as well as he could human character, it is, 
as I say, a privilege for one to look in upon and take 
part in such an assembly and celebration as this has 
been to-day. As we go through the commonwealth, 
upon our circuits, we watch the people of the common- 
wealth, and endeavor to see whether there is progress 
toward that happy state of things when courts shall 
perhaps be only empty forms, when the office of judge 
may be one which will administer itself: and I am happy 
to say that in this county to-day there seems to be but 
little call for the execution of the criminal laws. We 
are just finishing a term of the Superior Court, for the 
transaction of criminal business, at which but three cases 
have been tried, and the term is substantially closed. 
That is not quite as favorable a showing as in one county 
in the eastern portion of the commonwealth in which 



88 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

it was my fortune to attend court, where there was no 
criminal matter to be passed upon, and no indictment 
was found by the grand jury. That is a county where 
the descendants of the Pilgrims have dwelt since 1640, 
and where they seem to keep up evenly and completely 
the traditions of the past. But, Mr. President, his Excel- 
lency the Governor is gone. It is not always pleasant 
to say anything that is other than complimentary to the 
town. But I had, if he were here, a little charge to bring 
against Easthampton; not a serious charge; but not a 
breath of suspicion should be allowed to be felt in the 
course of the administration of justice. It was stated 
in the speech of the Orator of the day, one of the most 
eloquent men at the bar of our courts, and upon the 
judiciary of Massachusetts, that in the time of Shays' 
rebellion there were many Easthampton men ready to 
suppress the rebellion, and only one who was in favor 
of or acted in advancing it. But one of the objects of 
the Shays Rebellion, was the suppression of the courts. 
I must say it rather seems to me, that while not in actual 
rebellion, this town of Easthampton upon this day has 
not attempted to suppress the court merely, but has 
actually suppressed it. For. Mr. Chairman, there ought 
to be now sitting in Northampton, the county seat, two 
terms of court. But when they were opened about two 
weeks ago, the sheriff mildly intimated that an anni- 
versary was to be celebrated on the 17th of June, and it 
would be very difficult for him to be in court. And we 
said there were the deputies; but the answer was that 
the deputies also would be needed, though why deputy 
sheriffs should be needed in such an assembly as this, 
or anywhere about this place, no one could tell. And 
when the jurors were drawn, it was found that the East- 
hampton jurors would not be happy if they were kept 
away from home on that day. There was the same trouble 
about witnesses. Yesterday afternoon we wanted a 
witness from Easthampton, but it appeared that he was 
in charge of the men who were watering the struts. 
Whereupon we had to adjourn those terms of court, and 
Easthampton has now suppressed the courts [laughter], 
temporarily only let us hope [laughter], because, if I 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 89 

remember rightly, Easthampton has upon the docket of 
this very term a suit, and when that suit is tried, let 
her expect and hope that Justice if not the judge be 
blind. [Applause. J 



Our Soldi* rs uml Sailors. — The pride and guardians of the nation, invin- 
cible as defenders, peace loving and law abiding as citizens. 



[Mr. Knight.] Ladies and Gentlemen: — Colonel Hop- 
kins, who is always received here gladly, is with us to-day, 
and with us. as I believe, at considerable personal incon- 
venience. He once wrote that he would come. Then he 
informed us that he could not come. But we had the great 
pleasure of hearing this morning that he would be with us 
this afternoon. I now have the pleasure of presenting to 
you Colonel W. B. S. Hopkins of Worcester. 



ADDRESS OF COLONEL W. B. S. HOPKINS. 



Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: — I am most 
happy to be in Easthampton to-day, and those of you, and 
there are a great many of you who are included, who 
know me, know I tell the truth and natter not when I say 
so. I have never, since I sought my home in other parts of 
this commonwealth, failed, so far as I can recollect, when 
summoned, to come back with joy to the old Connecticut 
Valley; and when summoned by one of the children of old 
Northampton to come to its freedom day (for I take it that 
Easthampton is among the towns of the commonwealth 
that are now of age) nothing could restrain me. 

I am called upon, sir, to respond to a toast upon which 
I feel it a great pleasure and compliment to be asked to 
say a word. You have not called upon me to address this 
assemblage upon military renown, upon the topic of 
heroism or of strategy, upon the history of war or of 
the generals of the world. You have called upon me to 
speak for our soldiers and sailors. Now there is an 
immense sermon that is contained in or might easily be 



90 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

preached from that one word our, taken in that connection. 
It is not the soldier and the sailor who in the history of 
our race have fought the battles of despotism. It is not 
the soldier or sailor, brave, courageous, chivalrous though 
he may be, who under commission from foreign nations, 
or as knights errant of old, fought for the glory of arms. 
It is our soldier and our sailor of whom you ask me to 
speak. Therefore it is not the soldier and sailor of the 
regular army and navy: because during the more than 
one hundred years during which our nation has existed in 
all its strength, and has grown to such magnificent pro- 
portions as it now presents before the nations of the earth, 
the regular army of the United States has been substan- 
tially a handful of men only. So that when you ask your 
fellow-citizen, whoever he may be, to respond for our 
soldier, you do not ask him to speak the praises of the 
regular army of the United States. 

Let me not seem, however, to slight so noble a body as 
that which constitutes the professional soldiers among us. 
The Regular Army and its military academy gave to us 
every general of eminence who achieved any wholly inde- 
pendent successful campaign in the late war; and the 
citizens of Easthampton ought ever to bear in affectionate 
remembrance the memory of Major Gen. Strong of the Reg- 
ulars, an Easthampton boy. a brave, broad gentleman of a 
soldier, whose name the Grand Army Post here did well to 
assume. 

You mean, however, by the term, "our soldiers and 
sailors," the citizen soldier and the citizen sailer who has 
fought for liberty in this country, from the days of 1.776, 
and the days of L812; to the days of 1861-65. Any man 
may well be proud to be asked, in this presence, to say a 
word for the citizen soldier of the American republic. 
This army that has so lately risen among you and gone 
out again among you, this army that was the marvel of 
the time and the marvel of the world, this army that 
performed acts of heroism, individually and in organized 
bodies, such as any army that any leader ever Led ftiight 
well be proud of, and then disappeared again among the 
people to resume the duties of citizenship, without any 
shock to society; this great, grand army of the republic. 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 91 

in the days of '61 and '65, is what is present in your minds 
when you ask me to respond for our soldiers and sailors. 

Now I have but one or two words to say in relation to 
the army with which you were all so familiar. It was an 
army that was made up from the people. It carried the 
musket, and it drew the sword, inspired by the brain and 
the conscience of the American people; and for that reason 
it was an army never to be feared except by its enemies, 
always to be trusted by the lovers of right throughout the 
world. It was an army that so far as an injury to the 
nation was concerned could do no wrong, and so far as an 
injustice to the nation was concerned could brook no 
wrong. It was the people, and in its keeping the people's 
liberties were safe. It was not an army of men who, had 
they been handled by some skillful and ambitious leader, 
might possibly, haying accomplished the purpose for 
which it was organized, have been led to the enthrallment 
of the nation which organized it. Not Sheridan in the day 
of his brilliant flush of success, when he rode to the bat- 
tle twenty miles away; not Sherman when he was crowned 
with laurels after the march through Georgia; no, not even 
that great silent soldier, in whose last days we witness, 
around his sick bed. the homage of a nation, as its tears 
and prayers in turn arise and fall; no general, however 
brave, however able, could have turned the American 
army against the institutions of American government; 
because the army was the people, and the institutions were 
the institutions of the people, founded by their fathers, 
and cherished and protected by the sons. 

Your toast calls my attention for a moment to the 
duties of the soldier after he has returned from the field of 
battle, and resumed his place at home; a few words in 
regard to the duty of the returned soldier to his country, 
and his country's duty to him. The people of the United 
Slates, I believe, are profoundly grateful to the army Unit 
saved the nation in the civil war. I believe they look 
upon its heroism, not only with the ordinary pride that 
follows military achievement, not only with the affection 
that comes from the heart of kindred and friends; but I 
believe they look upon them as men who at the crisis of 
the nation sacriticed position, sacrificed perhaps their lives 



92 EASTHAMPTGN CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

without laying them down upon the battle-field, for the 
sake of the sustaining of the national flag, and the integ- 
rity of. the national government; and they have the 
gratitude, profound and deep, of the American people. 
But, fellow soldiers and fellow citizens, there is no man 
after all who ought to have so truly at his own heart the 
welfare of the country and the welfare of the people, as 
the man who fought to save it in the day of danger. 
There is no man who ought in his inmost heart to cherish 
more warmly the good of the nation than the man who 
was ready to lay down his life for it. 

It is those things that we work for, it is those things 
that we sacrifice for, it is those things we are ready to die 
for, that we love. So it was, that the soldier, when he 
came back among his fellow citizens, and resumed his 
position in his family and as a citizen, a tax-payer, a farmer, 
a professional man, no matter what his calling, had a 
great stake and should feel a vital interest in the welfare 
of the government. I believe our fellow citizens are 
always ready to recognize the claim of the soldier. And 
I believe that the good soldier wants nothing more than is 
due him as a man. He needs no exemption from the lot 
of humanity in general. He wants what is due him as a 
man only, and what he has proved his title to. [Applause. ] 

I ought not to detain you. You have been through 
long services to-day, and you have other gentlemen to 
hear from, upon whose time I must not trespass. However, 
I want to say a single word in Easthampton in regard to 
what has always seemed to me to be one of the chief 
glories of the town, and that is its happy, well-cared-for, 
well-supported, honorable laboring population. I do not 
believe that within the whole of the New England States, 
and if not in the New England States, then nowhere on 
this broad footstool could it be found, I do not believe 
there has been a town that has had the history during the 
last fifty years that Easthampton has had, as the home of 
contented and happy labor. I cannot go from here with- 
out referring to that, because it is within the scope of my 
own life, your neighbor as a boy and your neighbor as a 
young man. that this marvelous development has taken 
place here which has built up this beautiful, this Christian, 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 93 

and this enterprising community, upon this little tract of 
soil that was only one hundred years ago set off from 
Northampton. It is a hundred years that has worked a 
miracle. And we may hope from the present character of 
the Easthampton population, and from every promise of 
the future, that another hundred years will simply work 
another miracle. But when I think of her noble yeomanry, 
when I think of her educational advantages, when I think 
of her Christian standing, and when I think of the enno- 
blement she has always meted out to labor. I have this 
to say, that even should adversity overtake you, should the 
sweet be turned to bitter, and Easthampton at some un- 
known, and God grant it may be distant, time, receive 
reverses, enough has been accomplished during the first 
hundred years of her life to transmit a noble heritage to 
the children of your children's children. [Great applause.] 



Our Returned Suns arid Daughters: — With regret we hade them adieu. 
with joyful hearts and outstretched arms we welcome their return. 



[Mr. Knight. J The Rev. Payson Williston Lyman will 
be called upon to respond to this sentiment. Mr. Lyman, 
will you be kind enough to come forward and take a 
place upon the platform. Ladies and Gentlemen, I have 
the pleasure of introducing to you the Rev. Payson 
W. Lyman of Belchertown, a native of Easthampton. 



ADDRESS OF REV. PAYSON WILLISTON LYMAN. 



Mr. President, Friends, and Fellow- Citizens: — I con- 
sider myself to have been called, by the master of these 
ceremonies, to a most pleasant duty. Show me a man 
who does not take delight in speaking the praise of the 
mother who bore him. who nursed him in his infancy, 
and who guided his footsteps up to manhood, and I will 
show you one who "is fit for treasons, stratagems, and 
spoils." And the same in substance, I take it. may be 
said of him in whose heart the fires of patriotic devotion 
burn low. 



94 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

"Breathes there the man. with soul so dead, 
Who never to himself hath said, 

This is my own. my native Land ! 
Whose heart hath ne'er within him burned. 
As home his footsteps he hath turned 
• From wandering on a foreign strain I ?" 

In only less degree the same sentiments prevail toward 
one's native town, as toward his native land. Therefore 
it is that, to one whose family history in this place runs 
back almost to its settlement, antedating - the organization 
of the town by nearly half a century, whose boyhood 
and youth were spent here, who enjoyed your manifold 
social, educational and religious advantages, and who is 
still loyal to the old town in every fibre of his soul, no 
task could be more grateful than to speak, in the name 
of her returned sons and daughters, to you who to-day 
represent the dear old mother, and who have spread for 
us this festal board. Speaking in the name of the Clapps 
and Clarks, the Lymans and Wrights, in the name of 
the Janeses, Parsonses, Hannums, Ferrys, Pomeroys, and 
the rest of the troop who have come at your hearty call, 
I tell you of our joy, of our rejoicing, in all the past years, 
as we have witnessed the progress of this good old town, 
our mother, that cherished us in our infancy. We must 
claim, citizens of this town, a common share with you 
in the interest of this occasion, and in the fair fame and 
good name of Easthampton. None of you who are to-day 
making her history can, as it seems to us, love her better 
than do we. Many are the ties that bind us to the spot 
that gave us birth. The tender memories of childhood 
and youth which come thronging about us to-day have 
in the past bound, and do still bind us to this town as 
with "hooks of steel." Here are the graves of a sainted 
ancestry ; and here are now the homes of many whom we 
love. These holy memories and blessed associations 
attract us hither, and will continue so to attract. There- 
fore we have watched the approach of this anniversary, 
and have anticipated that, as the time drew near, the 
good old mother would set her house in order, kill 
the fatted calf, spread her table, and call her children 
home. And we have not been disappointed in our 
anticipations. You have called us and prepared for us 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 95 

a royal welcome. In our love for our early home, and 
for the people who were boys and girls with us. we have 
come hither, from near and from far, to review the days 
gone by, to contrast the infancy of the place with its 
present, to congratulate you on its growth, to rejoice 
with you in its present and in its prospective standing, 
as a hive of busy agricultural and manufacturing industry, 
as an educational center, as the home of a patriotic and 
Christian people. We rejoice in all that we have seen, 
in the grand display of your industries, in the growing 
beauty of the town, in its evidently prosperous homes. 

But this is not the town, altogether, from which many 
of us departed. I, indeed, have been so located that I have 
kept track of its progress. Nevertheless I see plainly 
enough that it is not the town of my boyhood. Many 
of the farms are in the hands of people that are strangers 
to us who return. We find that other men own the stores 
and grind the grain and cut the lumber and saw it; 
other men mend the shoes of the boys and girls, and 
mend the shoes of the horses, and attend upon the sick; 
other men sit in the chairs of instruction in the seminary; 
other men preach the Word of Life to the people; other 
men bear the official and business responsibilities of the 
place. The hills indeed are here; the valleys that we 
love; the rivers and streams along whose banks we fished; 
the fields we cultivated; the highways we traversed; the 
mountains we climbed. Ah that mountain, Mount Tom ! 
Well may you engrave its rugged, weather-beaten, flinty 
face on your seal and banner. You may go far before 
you will find another such mountain as is this, when 
seen from this point. We who are far from you have 
carried that picture in our memory, and shall carry it 
to our graves. The charming natural scenery we 
recognize and it carries us back to the days of our child- 
hood. And here and there we find something familiar, 
besides the natural scenery. I read this morning, or 
might have read, the sign "L. Preston, Tailor." It was 
there when I was a boy. I remember that man (whom 
I saw in your procession this morning as escort of some 
of the honored guests) not so much because he cut our 
clothes, as because he was the custodian of the old library, 



96 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

whose stores fed my youthful mind, — the library provided 
by our fathers for the culture of their households, that 
has a history running far back in the century now under 
review, its records long kept by the cultured and godly 
village pastor, "Father Williston," whose name I am 
proud to bear. That library, in reality the progenitor 
of the present noble institution, was as creditable for 
its day and for its supporters as is the library in whose 
benefits you now rejoice. In the post office we find 
another well remembered face. The administrations of 
Postmaster Bardwell and of Capt. Ferry, his immediate 
predecessor, cover forty -three of the sixty-four years since 
the town had an office. 

The chaplain of the day, long the loved pastor of 
some of us, what recollections, rich and precious, do that 
face and that voice evoke ! I cannot remember the time 
when the honorable President of the day was not a 
prominent factor in the affairs of the town. 

Thus some things remain, but more are changed. 
Pastors Williston and Bement, Deacons Clapp, Clark and 
Hannum, Samuel Williston, Edmund Sawyer, Luther 
Wright, Solomon Lyman and Josiah Clark, have ceased 
from among men. Under the inspiration of this historic 
review we recall these and many other men who in their 
day bore the honors of the town and carried its varied 
responsibilities, and as well the noble women who graced 
our public assemblies, and fashioned our home life. They 
are gone. They are gathered unto the fathers. We 
conjure you who remain, not only to honor the history 
of the past, but also to carry your civic life into the future, 
in the spirit of the fathers who are fallen asleep. You 
will not indeed be here a century hence. But it is yours 
to inaugurate the century, which will then pass in review 
before the minds of your children's children. In taking 
my seat, I offer you, in behalf of those who to-day return, 
this sentiment: 

The town we love, our honored and yet youthful mother. May her 
course be onward and upward as the years roll away. May her returning 
sons and daughters ever find hearts as warm as those which have greeted 
us on our return. May they ever find the tires of patriotism, of intel- 
lectual aspiration, and of Christian faith burning brightly on these 
ancestral altars. [Applause.] 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 97 

[Mr. Knight.] Ladies and Gentlemen: — We have 
received a large number of letters, some of them of very 
great interest. We have letters from Senator Hoar, 
Senator Dawes, the Rev. Rollin H. Stone, General Samuel 
C. Pomeroy, ex-Governor Rice, the secretary of the 
commonwealth, the auditor of the commonwealth, the 
Hon. Oliver Warner, Dr. Edward Hitchcock, and many 
others. None of these letters will be read. Some of 
them will appear in the published record of our pro- 
ceedings. One sentiment prepared by the committee is : 

The Manufacturers, Mechanics and Business Men of the Past. — Our man- 
ufacturers, God-fearing and man-loving, having ability and wisdom to 
plan, with courage to execute. Our mechanics, inventive and practical, 
skilled and faithful. Our business men, of sound integrity and liberality. 
May the temper, example and legacy of the beginners be ours for all time. 

My friend, Mr. Sawyer, has prepared a response to 
this sentiment, but on account of our limited time he 
waives the privilege of speaking, and what he would say 
will appear in the published proceedings of this occasion. 



RESPONSE BY H. H. SAW T YER. 



The life and prosperity of our village so interlink 
with the history of our manufactures that to suggest the 
manufacturer, the mechanic, and the business man, at 
once brings us to the sentiment of the day. For this 
reason it is with humble diffidence that I make response. 

Thirty-five years ago there was little save the academy 
yonder to distinguish Easthampton from other villages 
in the western part of our commonwealth. In those days 
the farmer sowed his crops, reaped his harvest, piled 
up the logs for the long winter, attended strictly upon 
the Sabbath service and town-meeting, and for amusement 
and variety indulged in an occasional horse-trot down 
the Main Street of an evening. The younger portion 
of the community grew up in aiding their fathers and 
mothers upon the farm and at the fireside. They attended 
the select school at stated periods and amused themselves 
with turkey-shoots and simple games now long since 
consigned to oblivion. 

7 



98 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

There was for us then no telegraph, no railroad and 
not always a daily mail. Not having been incorporated 
into loom and frame, the shuttle and spindle were still 
in the hands of the busy housewife, whose adornment 
it was that she could spin yarns well. 

A little prior to 1850 began the incorporation of those 
industries that have made us what we are, and as we to-day 
knot the thread of memory and set the centennial mile- 
stone in village history, listen a moment to the record. 
If I am not greatly mistaken, in the valley yonder you 
will find four manufacturing establishments whose annual 
product exceeds in value those of any other single 
manufactory operated for the same purpose in this or 
any country. 

To the Button Company, the Nashawannuck Sus- 
pender Company, the Glendale Elastic Fabrics Company, 
and the Rubber Thread Company, belong the acknowl- 
edged distinction of leadership in the quality, quantity, 
and value of their manufactured product. 

To the majority of us here, to-day, who may be in 
modest ignorance of the position occupied by these 
corporations, let me cite a few figures. Beginning in 
the order of their establishment, but not antedating 1850, 
it is carefully estimated that the National Button Company 
has manufactured and sent into the world 20,000,000 
gross of buttons, valued at $7,500,000, and have paid for 
labor upwards of $2,000,000. The Nashawannuck Man- 
ufacturing Company have made sales of suspenders, welts 
and frills, aggregating $9,000,000, and paid for labor 
$2,750,000. The Glendale Elastic Fabrics Company, organ- 
ized in L862, has already furnished a product of $8,000,000, 
and paid the laborer $1,750,000. The Williston Mills have 
a product of nearly $7,000,000 in value and have paid for 
labor some $2,250,000. The Easthampton Rubber Thread 
Company have sold no less than $4,500,000 of rubber 
thread and paid $450,000 for labor. The Valley Machine 
Company have sent out $800,000 worth of pumps and 
paid the laboring man some $450,000. The Mt. Tom 
Thread Company have made some $600,000 in thread 
value, and paid for labor $200,000. The Glenwood Mills, 
of more recent origin, have produced $350,000 of manu- 
factured silks, and paid for labor $70,000. 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. <)<) 

In the period of our manufacturing prosperity since 
1850, our little village averaging less than 4000 inhabitants, 
has purchased annually, raw mater:;. 1, and given the 
world $40,000,000 of completed fabrics, and during the 
same time paid $10,000,000 to the laborer. 

Think, for a moment, of our varied industries. While 
the villages in New England are often known distinctively 
by the especial lines of their manufacture, Easthampton 
sends to South America for the rubber manipulated by 
her Rubber Thread Company. She lays hands on Japan 
for the raw silk used in her silk fabrics. Her cotton 
mills have made use of the growth of Egypt and the 
far-off islands of the sea, to improve the fibre and strength 
of her yarns. The Button Company draws upon England 
for the Taggers iron which she covers with the products 
of France and Germany. 

Since 1850 no less than 21,000,000 gross of buttons 
have left our village and over 30,000,000 pairs of sus- 
penders; surely for the past thirty-five years we have 
buttoned and braced a continent. 

In the Capitol at Washington, by the waters of the 
Nile, at Alexandria, on the sugar plantations of Cuba, 
and in the mines of Mexico, throb for Easthampton. the 
pumps that never fail of a first premium when exhibited. 

These industries, however, did not spring from 
Minerva's head ready made, but were the product of the 
manly, enlightened, united energy of virtuous men, and 
for them I am reminded I am to speak. We give to-day 
the glory to the beginner, but although times and 
circumstances change, forget not that the same principles 
that influenced the conduct of our predecessors are 
immutable to the end of time. 

Who rides behind the buckskin horse in yonder 
chaise ? A man of commanding figure and courtly 
presence, who made money to leave it in Easthampton; 
a man who gathered about him a little circle of advisers, 
that the results of their united wisdom and vigor might 
supplement his wealth and foresight and bring prosperity 
and activity to the village he most loved. Often has 
Samuel Williston been spoken of by the multitude who 
knew him, and no word of mine can add to his repute. 



100 EASTHAMPTCN CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

He, by reason of his sterling character, his rare conscien- 
tiousness to do his duty at all tinies, and his exceptional 
success was pre-eminently the manufacturer of the town 
and section. He sleeps in yonder cemetery, but his works 
live after him, and those whose hands carry forward 
the business industries he so wisely inaugurated, still 
cling to the temper and wisdom of his methods. 

In the promotion of almost every industry of promi- 
nence in our village, I find three names coupled together 
in their acts of incorporation: Samuel Williston, Horatio 
<i. Knight, and Edmund H. Sawyer. Of those originally 
and prominently connected with the inception of our 
manufacturing enterprises, only one. and he the honored 
president of the day. remains to tell us of the struggles 
and triumphs of the past. It is not. Sir, of the accidents 
of individual fortune or conduct we have most to say 
to-day. While professional men are recorded at the 

university, while the aristocracies of the earth emblazon 
on parchment those favored with title, it should be 
sufficient for you that you are prominently enrolled among 
the business men of New England. For it is their 
sagacity, their brilliancy, their thrift, their perseverance, 
which has given the old Bay State its proud rank as the 
most enlightened commonwealth on the earth. Favored 
by your own townsmen during your life residence here, 
with almost every official gift in their power to confer, 
beloved for your generosity and public spirit, without 
whose untiring energy, knowledge of public affairs, and 
influence abroad, this day might have passed unheeded, 
in grateful appreciation of the good you have done, we 
borrow the old Roman supplication. "Serus in caelum 
redeas." 

And how can 1 omit to mention him whose name I 
bear, for he was a manufacturer? Stern propriety would 
bid me be silent, but the day and its memories would 
be incomplete without the mention of Edmund H. Sawyer, 
1 hough I, who knew him best, must speak of him the 
least. Loved and trusted by all, a strong counsellor, 
full of wise plans for the success of those enterprises en- 
trusted to his care, generous and noble, liberal and joyous 
of the advancement of any of his towns-people in every 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 101 

honorable way, he sleeps on yonder hill overlooking the 
business industries he did so much to advance, and in your 
hearts and memories lives ever. 

There are others, also, to whom as manufacturers we 
owe much of respect and love. What shall I say of Levi 
Parsons, of Hiram J. Ely, of Geo. S. Clark, of Mr. Harris, 
of Moses Ferry and Seth Warner ? They are all in the 
memory of those who knew them and play their silent part 
to-day in reminding us of the good old times of brotherly 
activity and progress. 

To the mechanics of our village a passing word. In 
these latter days of political agitation and strife it has been 
not uncommon to mention them as poor laborers. Are 
those to whom Easthampton has paid ten million dollars 
since L850 unrequited for their toil and skill ? Away with 
such jargon ! Is there anything noxious in honest pov- 
erty ? Those in decrepit old age, those whose frames are 
racked by disease, the weakling orphan in infancy, may 
indeed claim our pity. When, however, I find the strong 
heart, the cheery mind, the vigorous body of youth and 
middle age standing at the plow, weaving at the loom, 
building for us our homes and factories, fighting in defense 
of our nation, the very bone and sinew of our common- 
wealth, happy and confident, I will not pity them nor seek 
to dissatisfy them by calling them laboring poor. Rather 
are they, these mechanics and artisans of our village, 
constituting the greater portion of our citizens, rich in oil 
that makes for true happiness — of such men in the past 
were George Shoals, Arlow Hannum, William Searl : 
Daniel Rust, Almon Chapman and Nelson Clark — and to 
their invention, their skill, their faithful, persevering toil 
we shall ever be indebted. 

Among those who have recently gone over to the 
majority we recollect one who for fifty-five years lived on 
Main Street, and who during that time set many a spoke 
in the village wheel. As we walk through the cathedral 
of elms from the Post Office to the residence of Ansel 
B. Lyman, we are reminded that William J. Lyman 
planted most of those sturdy trees half a century ago, 
and thus early became an apostle of village improvement. 

To those business pioneers who were, or came, here 



102 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

at the inception of our prosperity, Ebenezer Ferry, Luther 
Clapp. and Odell Gregory will serve as fit ensamples 
to remind you of the representatives of the past. How 
well we remember that courteous Yankee, John H. Wells, 
who opened in Easthampton the first general store and 
for twenty-six years was our representative merchant. 

But this day and hour will bring to many recollections 
of those who, less known and in more humble sphere, 
acted well their part in village drama. If there are any 
to-day conspicuous by their absence, and because they 
affected to believe our village was not born until it was 
twenty-four years old. join not in our carnival, for tin mm 
••Knight" draws the veil to the dawning of a new century. 
When our second centennial day rolls round, perhaps in 
the parade of that day may be modeled in clay or brass. 
that unique, historic, but antiquated group of citizens 
who wanted a centennial all to themselves. 



Williston Seminary. — A living monument to the industry, foresight and 
philanthropy of its founder. An Alma Mater honored and beloved of all 

her sons. 



[Mr. Knight. J Prof. J. H. Sawyer, acting principal of 
Williston Seminary, will respond to this sentiment. 



ADDRESS OF PROF. J. H. SAWYER. 



Mr. Presidenjt, Ladies and Gentlemen:— -Dr. Busby, one 
of the most famous teacners England has ever produced, is 
quoted as saying that he could point to sixteen archbishops 
among his pupils, most of whom he had flogged. [Laugh- 
ter.] 1 see among those who have returned to-day to this 
festival occasion some who bring with them gray hairs. 
So recollection goes back to a time early in the history of 
Williston Seminary; and as we say in geometry a fact is 
often true when stated conversely, so some of you are 
proud to point to Luther Wright, and say his pupils we 
were, and if he did not whip us. we fear we may have de- 
served it. ( others go back in their recollection to the days 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 103 

of Josiah Clark, that gentleman and scholar, that man of 
inspiration; and there are those whose recollection reaches 
back only to the more recent administration of Dr. Hen- 
shaw. We bring yon the added greeting which is due to 
you from the school in which you began your intellectual 
culture. You have been welcomed to the town. In behalf 
of the Seminary we welcome you. We bid you welcome 
back to its grounds and to its halls. You are on a historic 
field. Many a contest has here been waged, bloody, though 
not mortal [Laughter] ; and it may be of interest to you to 
know that you are not only at home, but at the home base 
[Laughter] ; and we are very greatly rejoiced that you 
tally so much for Williston Seminary. 

I am called upon to speak for a class of institutions 
which cannot present to the public eye such results of its 
labor as you saw on the streets to-day. in the material in- 
dustries of Easthampton. We have no such display to 
make, because our product is of another kind. Francis 
Bacon, you know, classed among the great men of the 
earth the founders of states. But. though I belong not to 
that class of workmen. I claim in behalf of the great fra- 
ternity of teachers, that they are not the founders of states, 
but the founders of the founders of states. 

The academy dates its beginning almost from the 
beginning of this commonwealth. Boston was settled in 
1630. In H'>:55 the Boston Latin School, the parent of all 
classical academies in Massachusetts, was established, one 
year before the establishment of Harvard college. Before 
the next college, Williams, was established in Massachu- 
setts, four classical academies had come into being, and 
Williams college began as a classical academy. In quick 
succession they came, until the classical academies of. 
Massachusetts numbered more than a hundred. Tyler, in 
his history of American literature, notes the fact that the 
colonists at Boston had among their own number men 
amply capable to instruct any school outside of Harvard 
college, without going back to England for professor or 
teacher. So well did the academies do their work that 
they preserved this standard of education among the de- 
scendants of the original colonists, and they carried such 
a sentiment for the schools among the other peoples who 



104 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

came here to mix with these people, that the high school 
was brought into existence, in the hope that the advan- 
tages of these academies might be brought to the door of 
the humblest and the poorest of the land. The academy, 
then, has done its work, and continues so to do. The high 
school having come into existence, many of those acad- 
emies found their work so well done by the high school 
that they have ceased to exist. Only here and there is one 
still managed as an academy, and these are the institu- 
tions that have been heavily endowed. Therefore, when 
Samuel Williston. thinking there was occasion for another 
academy in this valley, and perhaps foreseeing that West- 
field, Mountain, Hopkins and Amherst academies, and 
others, lacked the endowment that was sufficient to main- 
tain their standard and thereby meet the increasing de- 
mands of education, he here laid a foundation which so far 
as can be foreseen, is adequate to all the demands of edu- 
cation as they shall be developed during the next fifty 
years at least. What may be done after that, or what may 
be demanded, is not for the concern of this generation. 
Others will then care for it. Schools are not simply en- 
dowed. They are not simply built, but, my friends, they 
have to grow. Williston Seminary has had to grow; and it 
is to-day not simply what it was when Samuel Williston 
laid its foundation, but it is what it is by all the gathered 
strength of all the labor of all these men during all these 
years. It is like a tree which has gathered into itself all 
the life and the inspiration and the strength of devoted 
laborers. The possession of such an institution in a town 
is a most valuable possession. It is an item of its wealth 
which can hardly be estimated. But the academy not 
only gives to the town; the town must give to the academy. 
If the academy grows, it is affected in its growth by the 
vicinity in which it is planted, by the circumstances which 
surround it. So while this institution owes something to 
Easthampton, Easthampton owes something to the institu- 
tion. 

I responded most heartily to some of the closing words 
of the Orator of the day, where he said in substance that the 
past is secure, hut for the future we must lie ourselves re- 
sponsible. It rests with the town of Easthampton to see to 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 105 

it that in the time to come, as in the time that has gone by, 
this vicinity shall continue to be a tit place for the abode of 
an institution of Christian training and nurture; I doubt 
not it will continue to be a fitting abode. A people who 
live by the honest toil of their hands, who are simple in 
their ways of life, who pretend to be no more than they 
are. who earn every dollar they have by honest toil, and 
mean to spend it frugally and wisely, such a people will, I 
am persuaded, furnish ample support and encouragement 
for the institution in years to come. In a very few years 
we will be gone. But then I hope some other master of cere- 
monies shall be able to utter a toast similar to that which 
has been uttered to-day: and that this seminary of learning 
shall then appear, still successful, still gathering within its 
influence many sons and daughters. ( ). may the time 
never come when it shall sit here as a weeping, childless 
Niobe, but throned on her height of usefulness may she 
still receive the homage of those whom she has blessed and 
at the close of the next century, rejoice as she does to-day 
in the possession of many loyal sons. [Great applause.] 



The Press. — Often the exponent, sometimes the author of public 
opinion. A power for good or evil. May its patriotism be pure, its 
counsels wise, its voice uncompromising iu support of every good word 
and work. 



[Mr. Knight.] In many of the homes, I may say in 
most of the homes, of Hampshire County, the Hampshire 
Gazette rinds a place upon the table, with the family bible 
and the hymn book, and other books that are worthy of 
such company. And what is true of Hampshire County I 
have found to be true in other sections of the country 
where I have had occasion to go. In the Western states, 
and in the Southwestern states, and even in foreign lands. 
I have found the Hampshire Gazette read and prized, 
almost as highly prized as the Bible itself. The editor of 
that paper is with us, and I will call upon him to respond 
to the sentiment which lias just been read in your hearing 
—Henry S. Gere, Esq., of Northampton. 



106 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

ADDRESS OF EDITOR HENRY S. GERE. 



Mr. President, <tn<l Ladies and Gentlemen: — The hour 
is late, and I will not detain you but a few moments. The 
sentiment offered is to the Press. I remember that when 
the people of Westhampton celebrated their centennial 
anniversary, the diary of good old Parson Hale was pro- 
duced, and in it was recorded in 1786, "Went to North- 
ampton; subscribed for the Hampshire Gazette." [Laugh- 
ter.] I have no doubt the good old man read the paper from 
that time until his death. And I have no doubt. Mr. 
Chairman, that, if you could get the diary of your good old 
pastor, the Rev. Payson Williston. you would there find, 
about the time he was settled here, if he made any notice 
of such events, a similar record, for the paper has been a 
regular weekly visitor in the Williston families from that 
time to the present day. 

It is the duty of the press rather to record and sum up. 
I will not elaborate, for I have no prepared speech. I came 
here rather to get some inspiration from the proceedings 
of the day. I came to hear the sentiments offered, to hear 
the booming of your cannon, the roll of your drums, the 
strains of your street music, and to get from your address 
of welcome, and your historical oration, and your historical 
poem, such inspiration as can only be gathered from an 
occasion of this character. 

I congratulate you, Mr. President, and ladies and gen- 
tlemen of Easthampton, upon the great success that has 
attended your celebration. It was the remark of a distin- 
guished agriculturist, I think it was Dr. Horace Greeley, 
that "the best time to set a hen is when the ben is ready to 
set.** [Laughter. | So I think that the events of the day 
have proved that the time to celebrate the centennial 
anniversary of a town's organization, is when the people 
arc ready to celebrate. [Great applause. ] 

I was greatly interested, with all of you. no doubt, in 
the exercises in the hall, in listening to the excellent 
address of welcome, to the admirable historical oration. 
and to the beautiful historical poem. And I recognized 
from all that was said there, from the threads which ran 
through every address and the poem, one distinguishable 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 107 

fact, and that was this: that the great success of your town, 
rising- from a population of four hundred to seven hundred 
in 184<>, and to a little more than four thousand now. rested 
upon some solid foundation. And I draw this conclusion 
from all the facts presented: that the success of this com- 
munity rests upon these things: the observance in the 
business and in the life of this town, of industry, of 
economy, of sobriety, and of a strict adherence to the 
highest moral rectitude. These fundamental principles 
underlie all success in all communities. Without them, 
this community would not be what it is. Without them, 
these New England towns and villages and counties would 
not be what they are, nurseries of men and women who go 
out to people and build up the great cities and the great 
commonwealths of the Union. And if in the next hundred 
years Easthampton is to maintain the prestige that it now 
holds, if it is to continue the solid prosperity in morals and 
in business which it has maintained in the last hundred 
years, it must continue to practice and to build upon this 
solid foundation. There is" no other way. There is no 
royal highway to success for communities, for states, for 
nations, or for individuals. That must come through the 
hard and rugged way of working it out in obedience to 
these solid, fundamental principles. Individuals fail, 
communities fail, states and nations fail, through the 
non-observance of these great principles. Rome fell 
through its extravagance and riotous luxuriance, and this 
country, if it ever falls, will fall through its extravagance 
and its luxuries. 

W T e stand to-day upon a pinnacle of time. Go upon 
yonder mountain, that beautiful range, whose western 
slope, fresh-wooded and green, gilded by the golden rays 
of the setting sun. as now on this beautiful afternoon in 
June, presents one of the most charming pictures to be 
seen any where in New England. Upon that mountain 
summit, looking northward, over field and meadow, over 
forest and stream, over church spires and college towers, 
over foothills and mountain tops, in the far distance, far as 
eye can stretch, we see RIonadnock, towering above all its 
fellows, piercing the clouds. Other mountains round- 

about it are great, but this one stands among them, a king 



108 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

of kings. So we to-day, standing upon this eminence of 
time, this height of a hundred years, above the petty strifes 
and contentions of the time, in the clear atmosphere that 
follows the wind and the storm, and looking back over 
your century of trials and struggles, your defeats and 
triumphs, your disasters and great prosperity, see one 
object, towering above all others — the name, and fame, 
and deeds of Samuel Williston. That remarkable man— so 
modest, so unassuming, so gentle and courteous, yet so 
energetic in action, and so far-seeing and wise — needs no 
eulogy on such an occasion as this, in the midst of the 
grand evidences of his triumphs. The words of the orator 
arc soon gone. They fall upon delighted ears for a time, 
and then pass away and are lost. But deeds remain, and 
institutions live on. He who erects factories, who rears 
churches, who establishes seminaries and endows them, 
who is the benefactor of colleges, who is the*friend and 
patron of great charities and missions, such a man moves 
people in masses and by decades and generations. His 
name and his deeds, confessedly great in their day. will 
rise higher and appear larger and even more illustrious as 
the years increase and the results of his wise planning and 
liberal giving are more fully developed. Just as we, 
standing at the base of your noble mountain, and looking 
at its bare ledges and ragged and uneven sides, from very 
nearness see not the full beauty of its colors, nor the 
charm of its outlines, nor the majesty of its size ; but, 
viewing it from a distance, with breadth of vision, we 
discern with clearness, and with fullness, and with increas- 
ing admiration, the rich splendor of its verdure, the rare 
symmetry of its proportions, and the grandeur of its 
elevation. 

.Mi-. President, and ladies and gentlemen: 1 thank you 
for your attention, and 1 congratulate you again upon the 
splendid success of this day. I congratulate you upon this 
beautiful day. upon this splendid weather, upon this pure 
and invigorating air. upon this bright and cheery sunshine, 
upon all the good things that have come to you through 
this day's exercises. The pleasing impressions which you 
have made to-day will go with us all through many a year. 
They will be an uplifting force to all of us; and as the 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 109 

years roll on, we shall look back to this centennial celebra- 
tion in Easthampton, with a joy which shall be an elevating 
power and a refining influence. [Great applause.] 



The Ministry. — Representing that godly principle which must underlie 
public as well as private virtue. None others have known as fully the 
individual life of the people and none have striven more zealously for that 
which makes for righteousness. May the memory of those who have gone 
from us join with the work of those remaining and to come, to bless the 
coming generations. 



[Mr. Knight. ] To respond to the sentiment which has 
just been read in your presence, I shall call upon one who 
has resided with us but for a brief period, but who has al- 
ready found a large place in our respect and affection, the 
Rev. Charles H. Hamlin, pastor of Payson Church. 



ADDRESS OF REV. C. H. HAMLIN. 



Mr. Chairman . Ladies and Gentlemen: — I was in some 
consternation when I was asked if I would speak upon this 
toast, for I had supposed it would be necessary to be hu- 
morous; but I asked our toast-master if that would be a 
necessity, and he said it would not; and when I learned 
that I might serve the toast dry, I concluded I would do it. 
It would be so much like a dry sermon that it would be 
quite in my line. 

In the next place, your marshal has said that I have 
been in the place but a very short time. I have a suspicion 
that that was the very reason why I was selected, that is, 
because I know so little about the subject. I thought at 
first it might be an objection to my speaking, but I remem- 
ber that the less a man knows about a matter, the more 
fluently he can speak, and so I was the more encouraged. 
And now I might say a great deal. I have here one of 
Rev. Payson Williston's old sermons [exhibiting] ,— don't 
grow pale, I shall not read it. It is all in this small space. 
You will observe from this small size that this sermon was 
evidently written upon paper that was made before paper 



110 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

mills were established in Holyoke. Paper was a scarce 
article in those days, and the people had to economize to 
make it hold out. The writing here is very fine, and I 
should think the preacher would have had to hold it near 
his face, as 1 hold it near mine, and read it painfully. It is 
dated 1793, and this is the stamp of sermon which was 
preached in the year 1793. And now there are matters of 
which I could speak briefly with regard to the social life of 
the town at that time. But all the good things that Rev. 
Payson Williston did for this town, his godly preaching 
and godly living, seem to me to have been less than he did 
when he brought forth that family of sons, N. B. Williston, 
J. P. Williston, S. Williston. It is not necessary that I 
should speak of these men. You know them, and their 
lives speak for themselves. It is a great thing to write 
good sermons. It is a great thing to have lived, as Payson 
Williston did, an honorable, godly life in this place for so 
many years. But. it is a far greater thing to have sent into 
the world three men of original force, energy and uniform 
success. In the days of old there was a fable told of the 
hare taunting the lioness because she brought forth but 
one at a birth, and the lioness haughtily replied, "one, but 
a lion,'' and Payson Williston might have said to the same 
purpose of his sons, "three, and a lion every one." They 
were the lions brought forth, and it was they who did his 
greatest work, and it was Samuel Williston who made 
Easthampton what it is. Other men have had wealth, but 
it was he who, having wealth, showed the inspiration of 
charity which used that wealth, the inspiration which he 
received when in his father's house. So that I may say, 
speaking for the ministry of Easthampton, that over and 
above his godly life and godly sermons, Payson Williston 
did his work when he trained up Samuel Williston to live 
the life of charity, which made this place what it is to-day. 
And having spoken thus briefly, I ask you- to remember 
that brevity is the soul of wit, and that if I close now, I 
may, at least, have done so much wittily. [Laughter and 
applause. J 



.EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. Ill 

[Mr. Knight. J Ladies and Gentlemen: In looking 
over this assembly I observe several gentlemen whom 
I should be very glad to call upon to speak. We did 
hope to hear from Westhampton and Southampton. I 
do not see any one present to respond for Westhampton, 
but there is upon the platform one of the selectmen of 
Southampton who has kindly consented to speak to us, 
Mr. Charles B. Lyman of Southampton. 



ADDRESS OF C. B. LYMAN, ESQ. 



Forty-four years ago this coming July, Southampton 
celebrated the one-hundredth anniversary of its foundation 
as a town, its centennial year of existence, and separation 
from the good old mother town of Northampton, and 
the setting up of housekeeping for herself. Its past 
history was then sung and repeated, in poetry and in 
prose. Also the hardships and struggles which the earlier 
settlers had to contend with, in subduing the forest and 
making for themselves a home in the wilderness, and of 
the men who took part in the fights with the Indians 
and lost their lives; of those who took an active part in 
the Revolution, both in the field and in the councils of 
state, and their sacrifices to build a church and support 
an educated ministry; the establishment of schools so 
that Christianity and education should go hand in hand; 
and of the many men who had been educated and gone 
forth to preach the gospel of peace and good-will, and 
others to positions in civil life. And now, to-day, nearly 
a half century later, we are here by your kind invitation 
to help you celebrate Easthampton's one-hundredth 
anniversary, the centennial year of your separation from 
the mother town and starting out for yourselves. We 
are also glad to meet here to-day the representatives of 
the good old mother town, and that other sister, a happy 
family group. As we have listened to the words of the 
address and heard of your prosperity and influence in 
religious, educational and civil life, we rejoice with you 
and are proud to have you as one of our family. Up 
to the time of Southampton's centennial, she was the 
larger place and the more prosperous, but since then 



112 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

it has happened, as it frequently does, that the younger 
has outstripped the elder in the race. We are with you 
to-day to congratulate you on your success and greater 
prosperity, also on the kindly feeling that has always 
existed between the sister towns, that no rivalry, or 
jealousy, or bickerings have come between us. We rejoice 
with you in your prosperity, in higher educational 
privileges, in your manufactories and other industries. 
We reap the advantages of being your neighbor, as many 
of our young men who have had, and others who are 
now having the advantages of Williston Seminary, can 
testify, and also for the marked facilities which your 
industries afford. Although you have drawn some of 
our citizens away to our disadvantage, we feel also 
indebted to you for some of your townsmen who have 
been a great help to us. One in particular who has made 
high attainments in culture and scholarship and who has 
occupied one of our pulpits on the Sabbath for several 
years, and who has taken a leading interest in whatever 
concerns the welfare of the town. And also the venerable 
Chaplain of the day, to whose earnest words of wisdom 
we have been permitted so often to listen with pleasure, 
and we hope with profit. And many others I might 
mention if time would permit. And now we thank you 
for the privilege of meeting with you to-day in these 
rejoicings, hoping that your prosperity may continue to 
be as great in the future as it has been in the past. 



[Mr. Knight.] " The time has come when it seems 
proper that these exercises should be brought to a close. 
This evening there will be a display of tire-works, as 
you will have observed by the programme, accompanied 
with music by our local band, and Belding's band of 
Northampton, who will spend the evening with us. It 
is stated upon the programme that these exercises would 
close with the singing of a hymn. It was proposed to 
sing the hymn. 

"Great God of nations! now to thee 

Our hymn of gratitude we raise;" etc. 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 113 

but we have thought best to postpone the singing of 
this hymn until the next centennial; and will close these 
exercises by uniting — and let us all unite — in singing 
to the tune of Old Hundred. 

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow." 
Let all rise and join in the singing. 

The audience rose and sang, reverently and from 
the heart, the words of praise indicated. Thus ended 
the literary exercises of the day. the hour being .about 
six o'clock. Everything had been carried out most 
pleasantly, in good order, and all on time except for the 
hour's delay in starting the procession, which made the 
exercises an hour late through the day. This delay was 
owing to the morning's rain, many of the exhibits being 
of a kind that could not be taken out in the rain without 
injury. For the full and accurate report of the exercises 
in the tent here presented, the public are largely indebted 
to the skill in stenography of the Rev. F. G. Morris, 
as many of the speeches were in whole or in part 
unwritten, and but for his service it would have been 
impossible to reproduce some of them. To make the 
report still more satisfactory, the speeches have since 
been carefully revised by the authors. 



LETTERS FROM ABSENTEES. 



From the large number of letters received, the fol- 
lowing representative ones were selected for publication. 



LETTER FROM HON. SAMUEL C. POMERoV. 



Washington, D. C, May 4, 1885. 
Centennial Executive Committee 

of EASTHAMPTON: — 

Please accept my sincere thanks for your very kind 
invitation to be with you on the *'17th of June." While 



114 EASTHAMPTCN CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

I cannot make a positive "acceptance," I will say it will 
be such an interesting occasion to me, that I hope to 
be able to attend. It will be depriving myself of a 
great pleasure if I am not able to so arrange my business, 
as to come. Please accept assurances of my very high 
esteem. 

I am very cordially and truly, 

S. C. Pomeroy. 



LETTER FROM HON. HENRY L. DAWES. 



Pittsfield, Mass.. May 11, 1885. 

My Dear Sir: — 

Lam in receipt from your Committee of a kind invita- 
tion to attend the exercises of Easthampton's approaching 
Centennial. Will you do me the favor to make my 
acknowledgements to them for this invitation, and to 
express to them my regret that I shall not be able to 
participate in so interesting ceremonies. I leave this week 
for the Indian Territory in the discharge of a duty required 
of me by the Senate, and my absence will extend beyond 
the date of your anniversary. I envy those who will be 
present on that occasion so full of interest and instruc- 
tion to those who believe, as I do, that the town organiza- 
tion of New England, is the basis of its power and influ- 
ence in our republic. 

I am truly yours, 

H. L. Dawes. 
Hon. Horatio G. Knight. 



LETTER FROM HON. AMASA NORCROSS. 



PaiJis. France, June 4. L885. 
It would give me great pleasure to be present on 
Wednesday, the L 7th, at Easthampton's first Centennial. 
in compliance with your kind invitation; but this is not 
possible. I wish simply to say that rightly to measure 
the value and importance of our New England town 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 115 

life, is to feel the eminent propriety of the celebration 
you propose. May every success attend it. 

Very sincerely yours. 

A. Norcross. 



LETTER FROM HUN. ALEXANDER H. RICE. 

Boston, June LO, L885. 
My Dear Governor: — 

I received a few days since, in Rochester, N. Y., 
where I have been visiting during the last fortnight, 
your kind invitation to the celebration of "Easthampton's 
Centennial," for which I cordially thank you. I have 
engagements which forbid the hope of my being able 
to be with you, but I send my best wishes. 

Very sincerely, 

Alexander H. Rice. 
Hon. H. G. Knight, Easthampton, Mass. 



LETTER FROM GEN. LUKE LYMAN. 



Montreal, P. Q.. June 1. 1885. 
C. B. Johnson, Esq., Sec* v. 

My Dear Sir: — 
I received an invitation to attend and participate in 
the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the 
incorporation of Easthampton on the 28th ult. In reply, 
I wish I could write the word ''accept" and join with my 
many friends in Easthampton in the pleasures of the day, 
but my engagements are such that I cannot, and therefore 
must use the other word suggested in your circular, 
'•decline. "- - There was no card enclosed with the invita- 
tion sent me, therefore must decline in this informal way. 
Please accept for yourself personally, and for each mem- 
ber of the committee, my kind regards, with the earnest 
desire that you may have pleasant weather for the day. so 
much of success depends upon that. With good weather I 
feel sure that you will have a "glorious time." 

Very truly yours. 

Lukk Lyman. 



116 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

LETTER FROM COL. W. S. B. HOPKINS. 



Worcester, June 15, 1885. 
Hon. Horatio G. Knight, 

My Dear Sir: — 
It is with extreme regret that I find myself unable 
to keep my promise to attend the centennial anniversary 
of the Town of Easthampton. Every recollection of the 
days of my boyhood in the mother town of Northampton, 
and of my early manhood when I took a wife from 
among your citizens, and of the many flattering evidences 
of consideration I have always received among you, 
induce me to join you on that day. But I am aware 
that the wealth of Easthampton and of its flourishing 
educational institution in honored sons of their own. 
makes it evident that my absence will hardly be noticed. 
Pressing business engagements detain me. Among the 
old and young towns of that glorious Connecticut Valley, 
which none who ever lived there can ever forget as the 
very garden of New England, Easthampton occupies a 
position of proud pre-eminence, as the home of many 
of its most respected and patriotic yeomen, and of model 
institutions both educational and industrial. I know of 
no record more proud, or which presents a fairer page, 
in the long and honorable history of old Hampshire. May 
your celebration meet with the great success which it 
surely deserves, and may the future of Easthampton 
fulfill every promise which its brilliant past inspires. 

Very cordially yours, 

W. S. B. Hopkins. 



LETTER FROM PROF. WM. S. TYLER, D.D., LL. D. 

Amherst, June 5. L885. 
Hon. H. G. Knight, Chairman, 
Dear Sir: — 
1 have delayed answering your polite invitation to the 
Centennial celebration at Easthampton till I could see 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 117 

whether it would be possible for me to attend. It is now 
clear that I shall be unable to be present. Will you then 
permit me to express through you my best wishes for the 
town and the good people of the town with all their insti- 
tutions and interests. May its growth and prosperity in 
the coming century far exceed those of the century that 
has now come to a close. And as the life-long friend of 
Mr. Williston, permit me to give you the following senti- 
ment : The business men of Easthampton — may they ever 
be the worthy successors of Samuel Williston in the prin- 
ciples and profits of their business, in their moral and 
Christian character, and in their public and philanthropic 
spirit. 

Yours very truly, 

W. S. Tyler. 



LETTER FROM MARSHALL HENSHAW. D.D.. LL. D. 



Amherst, May 15, L885. 
Thanks for your kind invitation. It is not probable 
that I can leave my work here, and it is doubtful if 
any of my family can join your celebration. Wishing 
you a grand celebration and another century of greater 
prosperity, I am 

Very truly yours, 

Marshall Henshaw. 



LETTER FROM PROF. EDWARD HITCHCOCK. 



Amherst, Mass.. June 16, L885. 
Dear Mr. Knight: — 

Up to this moment 1 had expected to go with Mrs. 
Hitchcock to Easthampton to-morrow. Fait unexpected 
duties in college have sprang upon me and I must stay 
here, I hope you will all have i\ very good time, as I 
should expect to, had I been able to go to the festivities. 

Cordially, 

E. Hitchcock. 



118 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECOKD. 

LETTER FROM THE REV. ROLLIN S. STONE. 



Chatham, N. J., May 4, 1885. 
Gentlemen of Committee: — 

It would give me great pleasure to accept your 
invitation and be with you on that occasion, were it not 
for circumstances beyond my control, and which compel 
me reluctantly to decline. Trusting that you will never- 
theless have a grand good time, I remain 

Respectfully yours, 

Rollin S. Stone. 



LETTER FROM THE REV. SAMUEL JACKSON. 

Lynn. May 4. 1 885. 
Gentlemen: — 

Your invitation to attend the Centennial of East- 
hampton on the l?th of June next, I have just received. 
I desire to express my thanks for your kindness in 
including me among the number of non-residents of your 
town, whom } t ou have invited to participate with your 
own citizens on such an interesting occasion; but I 
deeply regret that engagements already made for thai 
day will prevent me from being present. 

• Very respectfully yours, 

S. Jackson. 
( Vxtennial Committee, Easthampton. Mass. 



LETTER FROM THE REV. EDWARD R. THORNDIKK. 



To Centennial Executive Committee, 

Easthampton, M ass.. 

Dear Sirs: — 

Receive my hearty thanks for your kind invitation to 
be present at the important event in the history of your 
beautiful town. May the coming century witness gueater 
achievements because of what the past renders possible, 
and though you will not be able to join in celebrating its 
close, may you have as large a place in the esteem of your 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 119 

posterity as those of the past century will have in yours. 
June 17th. I hope to then be with you, inhabitants of the 
God-built City, in a better country even than the fair Con- 
necticut now flows through. 

With regards, 

E. R. Thorndike. 



LETTER FROM JUSTIN SNOW, ESQ. 



Cleveland. Ohio, May U. L885. 
To the Centennial Executive Committee, 

Easthampton. Mass., 

Gentlemen:— 

We are pleased to acknowledge receipt of your 
invitation, and regret exceedingly that it is not possible 
for us to accept. We cannot claim to be classed with 
the "old inhabitants,'* but we do look back with pleasure 
to our residence among them, and it would be a great 
satisfaction to "meet our friends once more'* and join 
with them in the celebration of the one-hundredth anni- 
versary of the good old town planted by those sturdy 
families who looked upon the school and church as 
indispensable elements in the real prosperity of a com- 
munity. And we rejoice to know that in all the changes 
that have come over the place, the church and school 
have not been crowded out, but have grown with the 
growth of business, and still hold a controlling influence. 
With the hope that this influence may never grow less, 
and repeating our regrets, we remain 

Yours truly, 
Mr. and Mrs. Justin Snow. 



LETTER FROM EDMUND WRIGHT, ESQ. 



St. Louis, Mo.. May 12, L885. 
Hon. H. G. Knight, Chairman 

Executive Committee. 

My Dear Sir: — 
I was glad to get the circular relating to the "East- 
hampton's Centennial;'" and should love to be with you 



120 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

on the 17th of June, and share the joys of the hour with 
many friends whom I so well remember; I cannot forget 
the many other friends gone to their final home, and 
among these, my paternal grandfather, Elijah Wright, 
born in 1738 and my maternal grandfather, Jonathan 
Clapp. born in 1735; also my dear pastor, Rev. Payson 
Williston, who married my parents in 1801; and whose 
presence at our home gave us joy: memory loves to 
linger among these scenes of the distant past — but I 
forbear. Wishing the proposed ••Centennial" a full 
measure of success, with my kind regards to any remem- 
bered friends, I am now (as in our boyhood). 

Truly yours, 

Edmund Wright. 



LETTER FROM CLARK MARBLE. ESQ. 



Burlington, Iowa, May 28, 1885. 
Centennial Executive Committee, 
Gentlemen : — 
Pardon me for the seeming negligence in responding 
to your kind invitation to be with you at your first 
Centennial on the 1 7th Prox. , for which accept my thanks. 
The "Committee on Ways and Means" have had the 
matter under advisement, and I have awaited their report. 
In fact I have been deliberating whether to accept your 
invitation to this Centennial, or wait until the next one. 
I should count it one of the greatest felicities of my life 
to be with you on that occasion, indeed I should consider 
myself a traitor to the memory of the mother who bore 
me (and whoso name 1 bear), who was born in East- 
hampton in 1700, as well as to the memory of a beloved 
sister, and two of my own "little ones." who sleep in your 
cemetery — to the memories of the happy days 1 spent in 
your town as well as to the memories of the members of 
your committee who were my class-mates, "companions 
of my toil." and last (not least), to the memory of your 
esteemed chairman who was my Sabbath School teacher 
and later my near neighbor and highly esteemed friend, 
should I decline your invitation. 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 121 

"Breathes there the man. with soul so dead, 
Who never to himself hath said. 

This is my own. my native land !" 

Most graciously then. Gentlemen, do I accept your kind in- 
vitation, with profound thanks that after an absence of 
nearly two and thirty years, and a separation of more 
than a thousand long miles, there are yet among the living 
some who "miss me at home." And now. Gentlemen, if 
within the range of human possibilities. I will be with 
you,— but should an overruling Providence otherwise 
order, I shall be with you in spirit. Wishing for you 
every success, rest assured, Gentlemen, of my highest 
regard for you, as well as for the many noble ones whom 
I rejoice to call Friends. 

Yours truly, 

Clark Marble. 
P. S. 

' ' A feeling of sadness conies o'er me 
As the clouds return after the rain,*" 

when I remember that the day you celebrate is the 
birthday of that noble man, whose memory I revere, and 
to whom and to that more than noble woman, who so 
recently passed over the river, your town is indebted 
for a great measure of its growth and prosperity. They 
need no encomium from me. Their works praise them. 

Respectfully. C. M. 



LETTER FROM EDWIN F. WARD. ESQ. 

New York. May 23, L885. 
Charles B. Johnson, esq.. 

Secretary Executive Committee. 
Dear Sir: — 
Your kind invitation lias revived, in both Mrs. Ward 
and myself , many pleasant recollect ions of Easthampton 3 
and a host of highly esteemed old friends there, and it 
is with much sincere regret, and an increasing feeling 
of disappointment, that I enclose our names on the 
decline half of the slip received from von. being com- 
pelled to do so. by the demands of a business which is 
wholly personal, and which only lets go of me during 



122 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

the month of August. We fully appreciate the com- 
pliment of remembrance, and thank the committee for it. 

Very truly yours. 

Edwin F. Ward. 

33 W. 36th St. 



CENTENNIAL MUSEUM. 



At a late day a committee, consisting of Dr.H.A. Deane, 
Geo. H. Pomeroy and A. F. Totman, was appointed to 
collect a museum of curiosities both ancient and modern, 
as is frequently done at centennial celebrations. They 
secured the Natural History room in the Town Hall, and 
began the collection. The enterprise was undertaken with 
considerable hesitation, fearing those who would come 
to the celebration might find so many other things to 
occupy their time and attention that they would pass it 
by. But as the event proved, it was a gratifying success. 
If the committee had commenced a week earlier and 
given a more general notice that articles were wanted, and 
then if they could have devoted more time personally to 
arranging the articles brought in systematically, a 
splendid show could have been made. As it was, with the 
limited time given to it. visitors were much interested in 
the exhibit. 

Among the articles was a tall old-fashioned clock, 
formerly belonging to Joel Parsons, and having been 
an heirloom in the Parsons family since an unknown 
date, now owned by Dr. Pomeroy; a large family 
Bible printed in 1744 placed in a case: two pairs of large 
brass andirons— fine specimens too — belonging to Dr. 
Pomeroy; a pair of ancient Hint-lock horse pistols with 
holsters and a Revolutionary flint-lock gun, belonging in 
former years to Capt. Jonathan Warner of Mountain 
Street in Williamsburgh, which Dr. Pomeroy obtained 
through Francis Warner, a grandson of Capt. Warner, t wo 
or three years ago. There wore two old swords, date 
unknown, but going hack unquestionably to Revolutionary 
times, or earlier, which are now the property of Dr. 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 123 

Pomeroy; another sword belonging to Mr. Totman; also 
a confederate sword, made in England, that undertook 
to run the blockade and got caught, now the property 
of C. B. Johnson; an ancient flint-lock gun belonging 
to Mr. Totman and a '"Queen's Arm" now owned by C. H. 
Johnson. 

Dr. Pomeroy had an ancient sampler worked by a 
girl of 13 in 1757. There was also shown a pair of eye- 
glasses, the glass made large and round, used by a lady 
who was born in 1693 and died in 1791, showing that 
eye-glasses are not a modern invention, as some suppose; 
a Bible printed in 1618, which is now the property of 
Byron Smith of South Hadley; also a very large cow bell, 
said to be 200 years old (this also is the property of Mr. 
Smith); a china tea pot, known to be 95 years old, 
belonging to Mrs. G. W. Bemis of High Street. 

Mr. Horace Matthews presented a portrait of Capt. 
Ebenezer Hunt and his wife of Cummington. Mr. Hunt, 
as "'post rider," carried the Hampshire Gazette to the 
hill towns for a long term of years half a century or 
more ago. 

There was a portrait of a Unitarian clergyman of 
Boston, who was a very intimate friend of the late 
Stephen Brewer of Leeds, agent of the woolen mills in 
that village, who was drowned in the Connecticut River 
while out in a boat with a party of friends, in August, 
1842. The portrait used to hang in the private office of 
Mr. Brewer in the counting room in Leeds the latter 
pari of Mr. Brewer's life. It is now the property of 
C. B. Johnson. There was also the old tavern sign of 
Caleb Johnson, painted about 1812, when Mr. Johnson 
began keeping a tavern in Haydenville, at the place 
where Dexter Tower now lives; a collection of some ninety 
pieces of ancient Pewter, embracing nearly all the articles 
found in families a century ago. when pewter platters 
and plates, cups, porringers, basins, spoons, mugs, and 
pitchers, were the common articles of table furniture, 
and supplied the place of crockery and glass ware now. 
This collection is probably the largest of its kind in the 
State and has been collected by C. B.Johnson. There 
was also a pair of silver-plated snuffers and snuffer tray, 



124 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

formerly the property of Mrs. Sigourney, the poetess of 
Hartford. In the show case was a collection of American 
cents from 1.793, when the present series was begun, to 
the present time, and a considerable number of bronze 
medals of distinguished men. A lot of ancient manuscript 
sermons was an interesting feature to those who care 
for such things. There was a sermon preached by Rev. 
Solomon Stoddard of Northampton, who was pastor of 
the First Church from 1072 to L729; two or three of the 
Rev. Benjamin Trumbull, the historian of Conn. One 
of these was the sermon preached at the funeral of the 
Rev. Noah Williston. of West Haven, grandfather of 
Samuel Williston. who died Nov. 10, 1811. This sermon 
was printed, and is one of a volume of printed sermons 
owned in town. There was also one of father Williston's 
sermons. As he left a large collection of his sermons 
at his death, many of his friends and former parishioners 
have secured one or more of them. Another manuscript, 
was a sermon written in a fine, clear hand, dated 17o4. 
supposed to have been preached at ''West Division.*' now 
West Hartford, by the father of the late Dr. Nathan 
Perkins, the long time pastor of the Amherst East Street 
Church. 

A. F. Totman had a well preserved foot stove, such 
as the ladies used to carry to church to keep them com- 
fortable, before churches were warmed. He also had 
some fine specimens of crockery, some dating back near 
a century, and some, such as was common from 50 to 
75 years ago. A three quart tumbler, and a pair of 
wine glasses, that belonged to his great-great-grandmother, 
were interesting relics. Other rare articles belonging 
to him. were a pocket pistol, that was carried in the 
Revolution, and a fowling piece, said to have been made 
by the late Gamaliel Pomeroy of Southampton. 

Dr. Deane and C. B. Johnson each showed specimens 
of ancient china, seine el' it dating back for a century 
or more. 

There was a map of Northampton, including Bast- 
hampton and a part of Southampton. This map was 
made in L831, and showed the mother town, now a city. 
at a period before she dreamed of wearing city honors. 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 125 

The map was brought in by Mrs. G. H. Leonard. There 
was a flax wheel, or "little wheel.** as they were commonly 
called, such as was found in nearly every family in 
ancient times. This, now the property of C. B. Johnson, 
was formerly used in the family of the late Dea. E. W. 
Hannum. A wooden mortar was shown, such as all 
good housewives used in former days to pound the spices 
for the family, before spice mills enabled our merchants 
to keep such articles ready prepared. This ancient 
article had been tastefully painted and gilded by some 
modern hand. Another hand mortar in the collection, 
made of lignum vita?, had been used in the Williston 
family for generations. 

Fred W. Clark contributed a military cap worn by 
his father, Fred A. Clark of Northampton, who was for 
years a member of the Northampton Artillery Company, 
and who wore the cap some forty years ago, when he 
was a major. 

These articles with others which have doubtless 
escaped recollection, were mostly owned by people in 
town, and largely the property of three or four individuals. 
None of the collection in the museum belonging to the 
Public Library was used, and with more time and a 
wider notice, a much larger collection would have been 
secured, for it is well known that there are many articles 
of rare historic interest, possessed by individuals and 
families, that might have been secured, when interest 
was once aroused. 

An admission fee of five cents was charged to begin 
with, until a sum was collected sufficient to pay for 
fitting up the room and the cartage of the articles, for the 
Centennial Executive Committee had no funds left for 
such a purpose, and then the doors were thrown open 
to all who chose to come. Some L200 or L500 persons 
must have visited it. 



126 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

Of the number of visitors present at one time or 
another during the day we have no means of judging 
even approximately, but they must have numbered many 
thousands. It may not be out of place here to record 
the fact that there were persons present who could 
remember the last of the native tribes who used their 
reserved rights of hunting and fishing in this locality. 
Up to within 55 or 60 years ago, several Indians were 
in the habit of visiting the town every spring to catch 
lamprey eels in the Manhan River below the dam by 
the grist-mill. They lived at such times in a hut which 
they built near by on the north side of the river. There 
were those present, too, who could well remember many 
of the men who were influential in forming the town. 



THE ILLUMINATION AND FIREWORKS. 



The celebration closed with an exhibition of fire- 
works, on the meadow near the house of Dea. A. B. 
Lyman, a place admirably adapted for the purpose, as 
the crescent-shaped hill-side there forms a natural 
a in pi i i theatre of large proportions. Main Street from 

the Mansion House to Dea. A. B. Lyman's was illuminated 
willi torches at frequent intervals, consisting of Large 
balls of cotton waste saturated with kerosene and sup- 
ported some ten feet from the ground by pieces of iron 
pipe. The meadow near Mr. Lyman's is a place of historic 
interest, being part of the *"School Meadow*" grant. 
The pauses in the exhibition were enlivened with music 
by the Easthampton Cornet Band. 

The display was witnessed by a concourse of many 
thousands, and comprised the following features: 

*This tract of 100 acres more or less — 80 acres above the grist 
mill on the Manhan, and 20 below it —was set off by Northampton 
for school purposes in the early history of the settlement here. In 
1745, Benjamin Lyman and Stephen Wright bought all the grant 
above the dam, and came here and settled on their purchase. Mr. 
Lyman building his house where Joel L. Bassett now lives, and Mr. 
Wright on the high ground to the west, near the house of Austin 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 127 

An illumination of red, green and blue fires in alter- 
nate colors, accompanied by a series of rocket flights, 
exhibiting- a variety of colored stars, serpents and 
meteoric golden rain. Japanese and parachute rockets 
of new design and combination. 

THE FLORAL CHAPLET. 

A hexagonal, horizontal wheel of brilliant and jasmine 
colored fires, which changed into a beautiful bouquet of" 
flowers of many colors. 

A variety of French vermillion rockets in different 
colors, representing bird flights. 

THE MAGIC CIRCLE. 

A circle of sparkling flame moving rapidly round 
opaque centers, which were suddenly filled with belts of 
interchanging fires, decorated with rich colored jets and 
rosettes. 



L. Pettis. This Benjamin Lyman and Stephen Wright were the 
progenitors of all the Lymans and Wrights in the town. In the 
division of the School Meadow land, after the death of the original 
purchasers, the land where the fireworks were sent off, fell to Ben- 
jamin Lyman. Jr.. son of the tirst owner, and it has remained in 
the hands of his lineal descendants from that day to this, a period 
of forty years beyond the century we celebrated. It was an interesting 
thought to some, who knew the fact, that the fireworks, which was 
the closing act of a day tilled with thronging memories of the past, 
were sent off on land, and the hill-side where people sat to witness 
them, was a part of that School Meadow purchase, and had been 
uninterruptedly in the possession of the Lyman family for 140 years. 
The original deed to Mr. Wright and Mr. Lyman of the School Meadow 
purchase, is now in the museum of the Public Library. This Dea. 
Benjamin Lyman, Jr., above mentioned, is the one to whom the 
warrant of Moses Breck of Northampton was directed, requiring 
him to warn the citizens to assemble, to hold their first meeting as 
a district, for the choice of officers. This meeting was held July 
4th in the old Clapp House, recently taken down. — [Hampshire Gazette, 
June 30, 1885.] It is related of Benjamin Lyman. Jr.. that he discovered 
in the •'School Meadow" one Sunday morning a bear from whose 
depredations lie had suffered severely, but his regard for the Sabbath 
would not allow him to shoot the intruder on that day. The bear 
was. however, seen the following Monday, and shot by him. The 
gun which he owned at that time, and probably the one with which 
the bear was killed, is now in the possession of Ins great-grandson, 
Mi-. Alpheus .1. Lyman. Mr. Lyman also shot and killed one of the 
last deer seen in town on his premises some time early in the century 
just closed. 



128 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

A display of shells, 4 to 6 inches in diameter, fired 
from mortars, consisting of colored star-shells, serpents 
and streamers, golden rain, chain lights, parachutes, 
Japanese and common hombs, exhibiting combinations 
and effects novel to the season of 1885. 
THE SUN BURST. 

A brilliant sun opening with a crimson flood of light 
from its center, changed to the morning star in five 
points, and burst into the sunrise, with a loud explosion 
as it disappeared from view. 

A display of colored Bengal lights at different points 
in crimson, green and blue fires, in heavy cases, large 
sizes. 

THE KALEIDOSCOPE. 

A combination of wheels, and flyers, vertical and 
contra-revolving, producing constantly changing angles 
and figures in many colored fires. 

A display of lights in groups of four and six, 
fired from mortars. 

A continuous display of rockets of different varieties 
and colors, followed by the art piece called the 
POLKA DANCER, 

A revolving piece consisting of four arms bearing 
at each extremity brilliant revolving polkas producing 
the design indicated. 

A display of rockets in colored and silver fires; a 
salvo of artillery shells from four to six inch mortars. 

Volleys of Roman candles fired in three sections 
at intervals. 

A flight of rockets, followed by the art piece called 

the 

CENTENNIAL SCROLL, 

Commencing with revolving belts of jasmine fires 
encircling in rapid motion centers of different colors, 
which are filled with scrolls of crimson, and green. 

A display of floral shells from. mortar guns, embracing 
all the best old and new varieties and combination colors. 

Followed by the 

STAR OF AMERICA. 
This commenced with a zone of brilliants garnished 
with emerald and crimson fires: these form star points 
interspersed with wheels. The star forms a brilliant 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 12!) 

display, while the wheels revolve on the several points. 

A brilliant illumination in crimson, green and blue 
fires, at the close of which the grand finale was displayed, 
consisting of the motto, flags, etc., as described, viz.: — 
THE CENTENNIAL TRIBUTE. 

Two beautiful columns of silver lance work entwined, 
supporting an arch of diamond points, with a silver glory 
over-arching the same; in this arch appeared the motto, 
"Easthampton, June 17." The base of one column 
contained the date 1785, the other 1885, in fires. Under 
the arch and between the columns was disclosed the 
shields and flags of the Union in their appropriate colors 
and designs. Volleys of colored stars, bursting bombs 
and flights of rockets, including some six pound shells 
of new design w r hich exploded into serpents and falling 
rain of beauty and brilliancy, closed the evening's display. 



( hi the Sunday following the celebration, the Rev. 
C. H. Hamlin, Pastor of the Payson Church, preached 
a sermon, inspired by the occasion, which was highly 
esteemed by those whose privilege it w T as to hear it. 
This sermon forms an appropriate appendix to this work. 



FINANCIAL REPORT 
Of the Centennial Executive Committee. 



$144 15 


- 35 50 


164 90 


125 50 


120 00 


110 49 


295 90 


44 00 


29 86 


15 76 


150 00 


275 48 



$1,540 00 



RECEIPTS. 
Appropriation, - - - $1,500 00 

Sale of materials used for decorations, 40 00 

EXPENSES. 
Cloth and flags for decoration, 
Flags for Public Schools, 
Music, 

Carriages, ... 

Use of tent. 
Tables, 

Collation (tickets and sundries), 
Poem, ... 

Printing, 

Postage, - 

Fire-works, Masten & Wells' bill, 
Labor and sundries, 

,511 54 

Balance for town treasury, $28 46 



The committee estimated $50 for the oration, but Judge Bassett 
generously declined to accept any remuneration for his important 
contribution to the exercises of the day. 



SERMON BY THE REV. C. H. HAMLIN, PASTOR OF 
THE PAYSON CHURCH. 



Preachedat tin Payson Church, Easthampton, Mass., June 21st, 1SS5. 



Psalm XLV, 16. Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children 
whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth. 

The thoughts to which I ask your attention this morn- 
ing are not a sermon in any strict sense of the word, but 
I venture to present them because they so ask for utter- 
ance. The text is a stanza of a marriage song in which 
the daughter of a foreign prince, becoming the wife of 
Israel's ruler, is exhorted to lose her longing for her 
father's house in joy in her own children and in her 
opportunity to establish them as princes in all the earth. 
It is the way of life — the same everywhere to-day as 
then in oriental palace. Love for parents fills the hearts 
of children, but maturity is stirred with new impulses. 
The youth leaves father and mother to cleave unto his 
wife. The bride forsakes her home to follow her husband 
to the ends of the earth. She sheds some inevitable tears. 
but in the plan of God regret for the old is overborne 
by joy in the new. The earlier affections are not lost, 
but they are overgrown by interests more recent, and 
the longing for parents blends with the love for husband 
and children. It is the plan of God that sorrow for the 
past should vanish in the joy of the present and the 
hope of the future. Men having served their generation 
fall on sleep, but their highest service to their generation 
is the production and development of their successors; 
and it is a thought suggested by the text that the con- 
solation for a generation that is past, is the promise in 



132 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

the generation that is to come. We require just that 
consolation. The past weeks have combined to remind 
us of a past generation, of the spiritual parentage we 
have lost. First, there was the memorial service of 
Mrs. Williston, which I heard one among you call the 
passing of the last shadow of that family which had so 
long- been a vital center in the town. All may remember 
that the baccalaureate of last Sabbath was the first in 
which neither of the founders of the Institution could 
share our earthly interest. The exercises of the past 
week have recalled many formerly with and of us, but 
they have reminded us of far more who shall not return 
forever. The graduates of last Friday were told that 
with the departure of the founders, the weal of the 
school must hereafter depend upon the gratitude and 
wisdom of its alumni. Everything has concentrated our 
attention upon the fact that the generation which devised 
liberal things, which founded and built and enlarged, 
has gone. The proper consolation for a noble generation 
past, is the promise of the generation to come. We are 
heirs of the responsibilities of those who are gone. If 
sound reason can discern in us the promise that their 
work shall be continued and extended, then we may 
comfort ourselves with the hope of the future, but if 
otherwise, then indeed the glory has departed. We have 
become what we are because there was loyalty here to 
the command. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and 
his righteousness; and all these things shall be added 
unto you." Wealth was not sought for luxury and 
self-pleasing, but that it might be used to the benefit 
of the bodies and souls of men. There are those to 
whom it is inconceivable that any one who can make 
wealth, will gain it for others than himself. If he has 
won it. they expect him to use it upon his own pleasures. 
and spend it at his own discretion; but you know that such 
are not the men who built this town. They were indus- 
trious, and that they might be generous to others they 
were frugal to themselves. Ere now. father! have 
complained that the preaching of charity by the clergy, 
developed in the boys a spirit of reckless prodigality. 
They were told that it was good to be generous, but 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 133 

they were allowed to remain ignorant of the fact that 
generosity is always made possible by a previous and 
necessary frugality. You must be economical to your- 
self if you would be liberal to others. The founders of 
this town were so, and you know how this nobility in 
the leaders evoked an equal nobility in the followers. 
Only a millionaire can endow a school, but many a poor 
lad has graduated here who could not have held on 
but for the assistance whicli came from smaller means, 
and humbler persons. In the economy of the kingdom 
of God, the widow's two mites and her all are quite as 
indispensable as the copious benefactions of wealth. 
It was the general consent to be laborious, economical 
and God-fearing, which advanced us. With indifference 
to duty and God, the same profits would have been 
wasted in dissipations that would have enfeebled strength, 
enervated the soul, and ultimately crippled the power 
of production. It has been because a past generation 
sought first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, 
that it was possible for him to add unto us other things 
also. Coming newly among you, I am aware of a 
spirit which makes this town different from others. I 
know of nothing akin to it save in some of those West- 
ern towns, which have been founded in order to establish 
such colleges as ( )berlin and Tabor. They have been 
built by men of limited means, who sometimes have 
given half or more than half their small competence 
to their scheme of education. Where such men are 
pioneers, form society and give it tone, it is distinguished 
for sobriety, economy and generosity. I recognize so 
much of it here, that I feel that this town shares in 
all the excellence of the best towns there are, and 
thai we enjoy an atmosphere which is spiritually tonic 
with the inspiring example of a godly generation. Does 
enough of this spirit remain to allow the continuance 
of the blessing? Is your consecration of your wealth 
to God as deep and honest as that of those who preceded 
you ? Are you as firmly resolved not to live for self- 
pleasing, as clearly decided to seek the spirit which 
comes from above and pleases to do right? Is your 
disposition as much as theirs, a disposition God can 



134 EASTHAMPTCN CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

bless ? Your answer to that question conditions your 
future. Great factories do not make a town, nor large 
endowments a school. There must be a living spirit 
in the wheels. When Christ rebuked his disciples' 
admiration of the great stones in the temple foundation, 
with the prophecy that not one should be left upon 
another, he emphasized the fact that character is the 
cement of society. When Jerusalem was best in archi- 
tecture she was worst in character, and therefore he 
prophesied that the depravity of her people would 
undermine the foundations of her temple, and it came 
true, and has been repeating itself in human history 
ever since. We have had a glorious past: whether we 
are to have a future will depend upon whether there is 
character enough here to deserve it. If the generation 
that is, equals the frugality and generosity of the 
generation that was, then God can bless it, and we 
may console ourselves for the passing of the fathers by 
our hope in their successors. From the somewhat 
abundant self-gratulation to which I have listened in 
the past week, I might infer that you felt no doubt of 
your equal standing. I accept the testimony, but the 
praise of the legacy of the past, is but the acknowledge- 
ment of the obligation of the present; now let us see 
it realized in fact. 

But no sober mind will feel that we are so advanced 
as to be beyond improvement. Every reasonable soul 
covets growth, and I invite your thought now to the 
real hope for our future, which derives from those 
inspiring influences which are the precious legacy of 
our predecessors. It is a noble thing to live where 
memory is a holy influence. Noble memories are the 
peculiar inspiration of that temple of the English 
speaking world, the great Abbey of Westminster. 
Wherever there are cathedrals, groined arches echo the 
reverberations of music, and painted windows transmit 
a many colored sunlight, but nowhere else as over the 
bones of I he men honored because on the whole they 
sought the good of England, does sacred architecture 
become vocal, and whisper that for him who tries nobly, 
there is forgiveness for every fault and glory for every 



EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 135 

virtue. Who may count the cost of a cathedral, rising 
like coral island by the toil of ages, by patient labor 
of the artisan, receiving consecration by slowly gathered 
dust of noble dead ? But commensurate is its worth, 
for only angels may declare the mausoleum's eloquence, 
as it stands a "gospel in stone," and testifies to every 
fainting heart, that for whomsoever attempts nobly, 
there is oblivion for every failure, and immortality for 
all his victory. Happy he who in hour of weakness, 
can hear the echoes of Westminster; happy also you, 
who though parted by thousand leagues of ocean from 
the great abbey, need but the discerning eye, the 
understanding ear, to feel a similar influence here in the 
atmosphere of your own home. Right here in our plain 
New England fashion, is the same lesson taught till 
all the atmosphere breathes worship. Half a century 
ago this was a wholly agricultural and decadent hamlet; 
to-day it is in the van of the best progress of the century. 
Elsewhere there are factories, but not too often factories 
like these whose walls were laid not for personal avarice, 
but to secure a wealth which might open minds to the 
divine wisdom, and hearts to Christian love. As there 
is a gospel in stone, so there may be also a gospel in 
brick, and I envy not the eye which sees in our factories 
only the brick in their walls, nor the ear which, forgetful 
of their noble purpose, hears in the hum of these 
spindles only the drone of machinery, and does not 
discern in their music a sacred symphony and holy 
psalm of praise. As the earning, so the spending; public 
hall, library, yonder buildings that shelter Christian 
learning, the endowment that sustains their operation, 
all repeat the lesson, and assert that the generation 
past lived with God and its country. But as he who is 
thrilled by the eloquence of the great abbey, thinks less 
of echoing arcades and colored windows, than of the 
lives whose praise they testify; so here the still small 
voice is less in that which human hands have built, than 
in the content of that sacred memory, the noble purpose 
of the builder's toil. It is not only the few who did 
great things, but all those who wrought with them, and 
these lives still abide and surround us with an influence 



136 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

which, though we were dead, must -vitalize us unless 
we withstand it. Reproduction is a law of life, as true 
of spiritual life as of all other. "As the Father hath 
life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have 
life in himself." "The first Adam became a living soul. 
The last Adam became a life-giving spirit." This Christly 
power of communicating life is in Christian life, in 
whatever soul it is. "The kingdom of heaven is like 
unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three 
measures of meal, till the whole was leavened." Unto 
us is committed "the ministry of reconciliation." If 
Christ's life is in us, fruit must be borne by us, for God's 
word is in us and it is not consistent with its divine 
power that it should return unto him void. It will 
accomplish the thing whereunto he hath sent it. So 
far as they lived for noble purposes, a spirit from God 
was in the generation past; and so far as our hearts 
are sensitive to it, the vitalizing sunshine of that influence 
warms every day of our lives. Unless we resist it, we 
cannot fail to grow in Christian stature until we become 
even as they. The memory of every economy for 
charity's sake, on the part of a former generation, rebukes 
extravagance in us. The remembrance of every new 
enterprise, undertaken to enlarge the town, and secure 
ampler means for benevolence, comes to us as a moral 
imperative, "Go thou and do likewise." The thought 
of every parental devotion, of all the labor and interesl 
of instructors and teachers, comes to us as a holy 
obligation saying, "Freely ye have received, freely give." 
Human charity to coerce the lazy, must often harden 
its heart, and allow suffering to do its perfect work, 
until it has brought forth action, self-support ami 
competence. But God deals with us as more noble, and 
appeals to our sense of responsibility by loading us with 
benefits. Honesty cannot receive talents without feeling 
an obligation to use them. He who inherits wealth is 
conscious of disgrace unless he enlarges his inheritance- 
He who inherits a great name, feels it as a burden, 
until his own achievements have justified it. Even as 
vital an orator as Henry Ward Beecher has confessed 
that the shadow of his father's reputation darkened his 



EA8THAMPT0N CENTENNIAL RECORD. 137 

youth. So God appeals to us by the liberality of the 
blessings with which we are crowned. We have in this 
church, the memory and example of many noble lives, 
and each life is an appeal to each of us. Trafalgar was 
won because each man did his duty. The time is past 
when this church can be upheld by the large gifts of 
a few; if it is to continue its benevolent course, it must 
be because each individual is loyal to his personal duty 
and privilege of benev r olence. Will you be inferior to 
your fathers ? Do they not seem to ask: "Shall our 
exertions only serve to reveal by contrast the unworthi- 
ness of your lives, instead of lifting you above our 
limitations, over our obstacles, into a fuller light, until 
through our help your achievements shall exceed all 
that was ever possible to. us? This is the eloquence of 
every noble life that memory preserves, and what shall 
be your answer to the grand appeal, and the voice which 
calls from Heaven? 

We have but time for a swift glance at two of the 
motives which commend obedience. The desire for 
action is irrepressible. We must direct our force some- 
where, and it is the noble ambition of strong hearts to 
leave something that shall endure for those who come 
after them. If we live for food and raiment, they perish 
with the using, and we leave no memorial behind us. 
If we incorporate our life in great buildings, these also 
disintegrate: the most solid structure, the most enduring 
granite crumbles at the last, and unless the life has 
wrought in some less perishable substance no memorial 
endures. But he who moulds a soul, does a work which 
shares the eternity of the material in which he toils. 
Build your life into souls, and so shall you lay up treasure 
in the everlasting habitations. Permanence for your 
work is your first motive to obey the influence of the past. 

It is also required by honesty. It is your glory that 
as a town and as a church you tolerate no debts. I may 
well believe that not one of you acting as a trustee, 
would fail to account honestly for all committed to your 
care. Now into the hands of this generation God has 
put this town, precious in its material prosperity, ye1 
more valuable in its bequest of moral earnestness and 



138 EASTHAMPTON CENTENNIAL RECORD. 

spiritual devotion. You rejoice that you have received 
it. By acceptance of it you make yourselves liable for 
the obligations of it. If you are dishonest, you may 
squander it like prodigals, but if you are honest each 
individual among you will feel his personal duty to 
maintain and enlarge the bequest of the fathers. Some 
are bound to follow the example of generosity with their 
wealth, others of faithfulness in labor, all of the high 
aim to direct their lives to bless others as much as them- 
selves. Honesty demands this debt. Have you acknowl- 
edged it ? Are you trying to meet it ? Strong is the 
obligation of these lives upon us. When an earthquake 
moves the ocean floor, that force is transmitted through 
all the waters till it dies away on beaches shaded by 
the palm, and in the frozen fiord of the poles. Mightier 
than any material force are those lives which have 
departed from us. It is ours to transmit their vital force, 
that it may traverse the whole ocean of time, and cease 
alone upon the eternal shore. This is the monument 
due from us to our fathers. Nor granite shafts, or 
structures builded, or endowments gathered, can memorial- 
ize lives like theirs. That honor can be done only as 
to the end of time they reproduce other lives as noble as 
their own. They toiled, but their reward depends upon 
our faithfulness. "These all, having obtained a good 
report through faith, received not the promise: God having 
provided some better thing for us, that they without us 
should not be made perfect. Wherefore seeing we also 
are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, 
let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth 
so easily beset us. and let us run with patience the race 
that is set before us. looking unto Jesus the author and 
finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before 
him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set 
down at the right hand of the throne of God." 



^<sU 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



i : ii in i ii in 1 1 II 
014 069 649 3 




^'"X 



j>J~~\ l 



